Question Your Assumptions
So, navigating a culture often means learning it directly and indirectly from other people, from experiences within a cultural setting and observation. However, when engaging and communicating with someone from another culture, there may be many different types of barriers.
For example, ethnocentrism is a common but misguided assumption that a cultural group and/or its practices are superior to other cultural groups and theirs. This is because each culture holds assumptions about what is good and “normal”. While national or ethnic pride can be a great thing, it can also foster hate and marginalization. It’s important to address this challenge by being open-minded and accepting.
Another typical issue is making the assumption that other cultures are similar rather than different to your own. As a result, by behaving as you normally would in your own culture, you could offend or break their rules and norms.
And, if there is one thing you take away from this training it’s to: QUESTION YOUR ASSUMPTIONS
You have to first accept that these “blind spots” exist, and then, seek them out and challenge them.
Assumptions can be broad, whether about a person or about why something is being done the way it is. For instance, here are some examples of assumptions people could have:
- Society works best when individuals focus on their personal goals.
- It is disrespectful to be late.
- A healthy diet includes certain foods such as green salads and grilled chicken.
Reflection 9: Explore what your assumptions might be and ask yourself and answer to the following questions:
– From where / from whom did I learn the values, beliefs and practices I hold?
– How do these affect how I see and experience the world?
– How do I react to unfamiliar environments and situations?
– Which aspects of my identity shape me and what are some examples?
Remember that your answers will likely be completely different from another persons’, especially ones who hold different identities than yours.