MODULE FOUR: Cultural Competency

Objectives: Students will: Define culture. Understand and identify their own culture. Identify and understand stereotypes and myths about cultures. Understand how important it is to be culturally competent (aware and respectful of other cultures) when providing volunteer and health related service in the community.

What is culture? Culture is the shared values, traditions, norms, customs, arts, history, folklore, and institutions of a group of people.

1)What people think 2)What people do 3)The materials and products people produce Culture involves three components:

Culture is made up of many aspects: Race Ethnicity Hometown Religion Experiences Spirituality Talents Abilities Disabilities Languages

Culture is individual: People may share a culture because they live in the same town. However, just because they are the same race, it doesn’t mean they always have the same religious beliefs or educational background. Also, there can be cultural differences between two people who speak the same language and look alike, but come from different areas of a country.

Culture is always changing: Education Experience Club memberships Hobbies or free-time activities Religion or spiritual beliefs

No one has a single culture. A mother A Chinese immigrant A member of the board of education A student A member of a basketball team For example, one person may be all of these things:

Each culture has its own: Rules Beliefs Language Traditions Norms Values

As a volunteer, how can I maintain cultural competence? Know something about your own culture. Understand that you will not agree with all other cultures. Understand that it is okay to be different. If you do not understand something, ask questions! Be respectful of the culture of others, clients and health care workers.

According to the 2000 U.S. Census Bureau data, the ethnic/racial breakdown of the population of the United States is as follows: 281,421,906 people 75.1% Caucasian 69.1% Caucasian persons not of Hispanic/Latino origin 12.5% Hispanic or Latino 12.3% African American 3.6% Asian.9% American Indian or Alaska Native.1% Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander 5.5% reporting to some other race 2.4% reporting to two or more races Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2000 Summary File 3,

Language Barriers

According to the 2000 U.S. Census Bureau, 262,375,152 people speak a language Of the total speakers, 215,423,557 speak English 46,951,595 speak a language other than English Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2000 Summary File 3,

Non-English speakers Of the total 46,951,595 non-English speakers: –28,101,052 speak Spanish –2,022,143 speak Chinese –1,643,838 speak French –706,242 speak Russian –614,582 speak Arabic Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2000 Summary File 3,

There are more than 100 languages designated as “official” by governments worldwide. The United Nations has six official languages: English French Spanish Russian Chinese Arabic Source: National Virtual Translation Center;

Language statistics worldwide: Chinese (Mandarin) is the most widely spoken language in the world. English is the second Source: National Virtual Translation Center;

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964: No person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964: Protects individuals against employment discrimination on the basis of race and color, national origin, sex, or religion. Prohibits employers from discriminating against individuals because of their religion in hiring, firing, and other terms and conditions of employment. It also requires employers to allow, within reason, an employee the time or place to practice their religion.

Remember: No one culture is the best culture. No one culture is the right culture. Just because a culture is different does not make it wrong. No one has just one culture. Cultures are constantly changing.

Summary: No one has a single culture. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects against discrimination of any kind.