Module 2 Unit 3 a: Population Awareness I DEED WorkForce Center Reception and Resource Area Certification Program

Unit Competency Statement and Learning Objectives Competency Statement: Understand how perceptions influence thinking and know essential principles of cultural awareness on a basic level. Learning Objectives:  Perceptions  Cultural awareness

Learning Objectives 1. Perceptions  What is it?  Stereotyping 2. Cultural Awareness  Cultural competence  Cultural KASs

PERCEPTIONS

Discussion Point 1.Have you ever tried to get people to stereotype you, either positively or negatively?

Perceptions Perceptions stem from individual cultures, media and personal experiences through which individual biases and stereotypes are created – both positive or negative. The dictionary defines perception as: 1 a : to attain awareness or understanding of and b : to regard as being such. For example, a perceived personal threat or (he was) perceived as a loser. 2 : to become aware of (something or someone) through the senses. Our awareness and understanding of situations or groups of people are not always accurate, which, in turn, skews our perceptions of them.

Biases “A bias is an inflexible positive or negative prejudgment about an individual and is based on a generalized idea about the groups to which the person belongs.” There are two types of biases that direct our behaviors toward others: 1. Conscious bias followed by conscious behavior. 2. Unconscious bias followed by unconscious behavior. People should not be defined by biases, stereotypes or external factors, but rather by their personal characteristics.

Letting go of Biases To uncover our personal biases, we must first analyze our thoughts – are they based on misinformation or just differences? Changing our thought process and letting go of our biases, require us to find similarities with people different from ourselves and ways to connect with them. Exercise: List some similarities we all share. ___________________________________ _____________________________________

CULTURAL AWARENESS

American Culture Different periods defined the American culture: Melting Pot:  Foreigners were expected to fit into the new world – the idea was that individual cultures would eventually melt into one. Mosaic Society/Salad bowl:  Cultural differences are valued. Multicultural:  The American culture has grown into a multi-culture and is no longer distinct.

Cultural KSAs K: Cultural Knowledge: Familiarity with the characteristics, history, values, belief systems, and behaviors of members of a racial, ethnic or social group. S: Cultural Sensitivity : Being sensitive to cultural differences as well as similarities and not assigning values, i.e., better or worse, right or wrong, to those cultural differences. A: Cultural Awareness: Being aware that members belonging to a racial, ethnic or social groups possess unique qualities, differences and similarities from other such groups.

Culture Competence Defined Culture implies: that a group of people share similar characteristics of the same racial, ethnic or social group and integrated patterns of social behaviors, thoughts, communications, actions, customs, beliefs and values. Competence implies: To effectively apply cross-cultural knowledge of racial, ethnic or social groups in the appropriate cultural context. Cultural Competence: Possessing knowledge, awareness and sensitivity of people who are members of other cultures and having the capacity to effectively function within them.

Discussion Point 1.What do you do at your WFC that promotes cultural competence?

Perceptions Key Points 1. Perceptions stem from individual cultures, media and personal experiences through which biases or stereotypes of others are created – both positive or negative. 2. Because our thought processes are not always accurate, our perceptions of people and situations can be skewed. 3. Biases are based on generalized ideas and perceptions of people belonging to a particular group. 4. Stereotypes do not define people, but rather their personal characteristics should.

Cultural Awareness Key Points 1. The American culture has evolved from a melting pot to a mosaic or salad bowl to a multiculture. 2. Being culturally competent is having the capacity to function effectively in other cultural contexts. 3. Cultural KSAs are knowledge, sensitivity and awareness of different cultures and ethnic groups.

Sources Perception." Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary Merriam-Webster Online. 22 April Mark A. King, Anthony Sims, & David Osher. “Defining Cultural Competence.” Retrieved January 2010 from Sondra Thiederman. “Making Diversity Work: 7 Steps to Defeating Bias in the Workplace.” Kaplan Publishing, Second Edition, May Patreese D. Ingram. “An Overview of Diversity Awareness.” Retrieved December 2009 from Tony Byers & Associates. “Experiencing the Power of Diversity.” The City of Minneapolis – Employee Conference, March 2006.

This completes training for Module 2, Unit 3a. Learning Objective 1: Perceptions Learning Objective 2: Cultural Awareness