CULTURAL DIVERSITY AND ITS RELEVANCE TO SOCIAL SERVICE PRACTICE

Question 1

What are the 10 factors that contribute to diversity?

Answer 1

1. Race
2. Ethnicity
3. Social class
4. Language
5. Religion/faith/belief system
6. Gender
7. Sexual orientation
8. Age
9. Education level
10. Immigration of people from different countries

Question 2

Explain the impact of “Immigration of people from different countries” in the 10 factors that contribute to diversity.

How does cultural diversity impact social service practice?

What kind of new issues that these people bring in?

Answer 2

Over the years, many migrant workers and foreign talents, who had stayed long in the country, decide to remain as permanent resident or even taken up citizenship. The influx of foreign immigrants bring along with them their culture and way of life.

Give an example in social service context.

Increase of INTERCULTURAL MARRIAGES

Question 3

What is encapsulated practice?

Answer 3

Encapsulated is the opposite of multicultural competent practice.

Cultural encapsulation is ignorance or lack of knowledge of another’s cultural background, and failure to recognise the significance that a person’s culture plays on current life situation of view of world.

Question 4

Why is it important to not be ethnocentric and be careful if monoculturalism?

How does one avoid that?

Answer 4

Monoculturalism will lead to:

1. Belief in superiority
2. Belief in the inferiority of others
3. Power to impose standards
4. Manifestation in institutions
5. The invisible veil

Question 5

What is Belief in superiority in encapsulated practice?

Answer 5

There is a strong belief in the superiority of one group’s cultural heritage (history, values, language, traditions, arts/crafts, etc.). The group norms and values are seen positively, and descriptors may include, such phrases as “more advanced” and “more civilized.”
Some members of the group may possess conscious and unconscious feelings of superiority and feel that their way of doing things is the best way.

Question 6

What is Belief in the inferiority of others in encapsulated practice?

Answer 6

This is a belief that cultural heritage of all groups other than one’s own, is inferior. This includes customs, traditions, values, and language.
Others societies or groups may be perceived as less developed, uncivilized, primitive, or even pathological and their lifestyles or ways of doing things are even considered inferior. For example, physical characteristics such as dark complexion, black hair etc.; Cultural characteristics, such as belief in collectivism, present-time orientation (fast paced lifestyle, “time is money”), importance of shared wealth, and linguistic characteristics, such as bilingualism, non-standard English, speaking with an accent, use of nonverbal and contextual communication, and reliance on the oral tradition are usually seen as less desirable by the larger society.

Question 7

What is Power to impose standards in encapsulated practice?

Answer 7

D.W. Sue (2010a, 2010b) asserted that a dominant group or culture possesses the power to impose its standards and beliefs on the less powerful group/culture. He pointed out that ‘all groups are to some extent ethnocentric; that is, they feel positively about their cultural heritage and way of life’. However, if the groups do not possess the power or are not in a position to impose their values on others, then hypothetically they cannot oppress.

Question 8

What is Manifestations in institutions in encapsulated practice?

Answer 8

Ethnocentric values and beliefs can be manifested in the programs, policies, practices, structures, and institutions of the society; such as, chain-of-command systems, training and education systems, communication systems, management systems, performance appraisal systems.
Whether or not an organisation is encapsulated in ethnocentric monoculturalism can be seen - in the way they conduct their activities, their chain of command, their communication systems, management system, performance management system etc. For example, agencies that run along religious values may manifest these through their daily activities, or may reflect their values and beliefs in their workplace through their office decorations etc. This may have a subtle influence on clients.

Question 9

What is The Invisible Veil in encapsulated practice?

Answer 9

Since people are all products of cultural conditioning, their values and beliefs (worldviews) represent an “invisible veil” that operates outside the level of conscious awareness (Sue, 2004). As a result, people assume universality i.e. everyone regardless of race, culture, ethnicity or gender, share same nature of reality and truth. This assumption is erroneous but it is seldom questioned because it is firmly ingrained in our worldview. Racism, sexism and homophobia may be both conscious (intentional) and unconscious (unintentional). Very often, well-intentioned individuals who consider themselves moral, decent, and fair-minded are the ones who have the greatest difficulty in understanding how their belief systems and actions may be biased and prejudiced.