Human Diversity Notes

Human Diversity

  • Also known as cultural diversity.
  • Deals with the variety of human societies and cultures and examines their similarities and differences.
  • These differences are what make each person unique and valuable in his or her own right.

Society and Culture

  • Society is made up of many cultures.
  • Cultures establish behaviors of people.
  • Cultures can be for a lifetime and provide comfort.

Cultural Globalization

  • Globalization means that people now cross borders into other countries to work, go to school, receive medical care, visit, and live.
  • Nations, societies, professional organizations, and businesses have become increasingly cross-cultural or multicultural.
  • People are affected by changing world society.

Human Diversity Characteristics

  • Age
  • Ethnicity or national origin
  • Race
  • Gender or sexual orientation
  • Mental and physical ability
  • Work style or ethic
  • Geographic location
  • Lifestyle
  • Physical features
  • Economic conditions
  • Political beliefs
  • Religious beliefs
  • First language
  • Disability
  • Education

Personal Biases

  • Everyone has some degree of bias.
  • Bias is a real human characteristic and needs to be addressed.
  • Personal biases, even without conscious thought, play a major role in how individuals perceive others.
  • Dealing with bias requires education and knowledge of other cultures.

Assimilation vs. Biculturalism

  • Assimilation
  • Biculturalism

U.S. Mainstream Values

  • Activity and hard work
  • Personal achievement and success
  • Individualism
  • Efficiency and practicality
  • Affluence, consumerism, and material comfort
  • Competition
  • Openness, directness, and being well informed

Aging Generations

  • World War II generation
  • Baby Boomers
  • Generation X
  • Generation Y
  • Generation Z
  • Age biases must be corrected, and older individuals must be regarded for the value of their experiences and knowledge.

Embracing Diversity

  • Knowledge of cultural differences is key.
  • Respect for others and self
  • Know your personal biases.
  • Understand the values of the individual regardless of his or her condition in life.
  • Seek to learn from others you meet and interact with.
  • Appreciate the societal value of multiculturalism.
  • Empathy for others

Cultural Competency

  • A set of attitudes, congruent behaviors, and policies that come together in an agency, in a system, or among professionals, enabling effective interactions in a cross-cultural or multicultural environment
  • Five key elements

Becoming Culturally Competent

  • Adopt diversity as a value.
  • Develop a capacity for cultural self- assessment.
  • Become aware of the dynamics of cross- cultural interaction.
  • Incorporate a knowledge of multiculturism as an organization.
  • Design service delivery processes that reflect an understanding of a multicultural environment.

Cultural Diversity and Health Care

  • Communication
  • Space
  • Time
  • Environmental control
  • Biologic variations
  • Social organizations

Conclusion

  • “Always remember that you are unique, just like everybody else.” —Anonymous
  • Patient care hinges on understanding, communication, and empathy, and health care is fostering the development of these skills in every practitioner.