This cartoon by Ted Goff illustrates a comedic interpretation of the importance of cultural competency. http://www.newslettercartoons.com//catalog/catalog.cgi?sid=109239593
Cultural competence is crucial in the field of social work. As I continue to explore avenues of social work and a degree in the field, I am coming to a greater understanding of the necessity of cultural competence. A lack of cultural competence negatively effects the efficiency of social work. It is almost impossible to build the rapport needed in a social worker-client relationship without an understanding of each person’s cultural mindset.
Unity in the human race follows the path of cultural competency. I care deeply for people who experience loneliness and feel forgotten, who are left behind and viewed as lesser, and who are exploited. Building cultural competency allows my interpersonal relationships to be beyond an exercise of compassion and be transformed into a respectful, reciprocal appreciation with people from various cultural backgrounds. Goodman notes that the relationships with culturally competent participants are characterized by equity and inclusion (Goodman, 2013). Her blog post with further detail is linked here: Cultural Competency for Social Justice.
The application for cultural competency is not only for social workers, public relations employees, or mass media experts. Cultural competency is a necessary skill for every human being to possess. It is important, first, to understand what culture is. Culture and Conflict by Michelle LeBaron presents insightful commentary on cultural competence and a definition of culture itself. Most people think they are conducting themselves in a normal manner from day to day, and that is true… as long as those people remain in their cultural context and with people from their own cultural context. The importance of understanding and respecting various career paths is obvious in modern times. Cultural tension is present in every city in America, and the need for cultural knowledge is becoming more and more pressing.
For example, I have found it extremely beneficial to have mentor relationships with people from a culture other than mine. I had the privilege of becoming close friends with my Resident Assistant last year. She is from Kosovo. Her country experienced war and hardship for her entire childhood. When she left her country to come to college, she experienced severe cultural differences. She communicated the cultural differences increasingly as we became closer friends. I noticed early on that her comfort with ambiguity was much higher than mine. I also noticed that she was very indirect with her invitations. She would regularly invite me to have tea with her, but if I had other commitments, she would be hurt more than I realized when I declined. Through this friendship I learned about the ways in which my own culture effects my communication and interpersonal relationships. I have very direct tendencies and a very low level of comfort with ambiguity. Knowing these facts has helped me to become more culturally competent. I would encourage everyone to seek friendships and mentorships with people who grew up in other cultures. The best way to learn about other cultures, in my opinion, is to partake in relationships and settings in which those cultures are present. Examine your comfort level with ambiguity and the way you interpret time. Those two factors are great starting point in becoming more culturally competent.
chelsicommunicating 