PLEASE POST EACH DISCUSSION SEPARATELY
Professionals in all areas from business to counseling commonly anticipate possible
cultural differences with clients. At the same time, they inevitably encounter cultural
differences with clients as well as with other professionals or with the views of
organizations in which they work. These differences can compromise the services that
clients receive unless effectively resolved.
For this discussion question, provide at least two examples from within your profession
of situations in which the policies of real or fictitious organizations seem contrary to the
best interests of a client due to cultural differences.
ANSWER THE ABOVE DISCUSSION AND REPLY TO MY CLASSMATES’
DISCUSSION TO THE ABOVE QUESTIONS AS YOU WOULD IN A FACE-TOFACE CLASS BY EXPLAINING WHY YOU AGREE, STATING YOUR POINT OF
VIEW AND ASKING QUESTIONS. MINIMUM OF 300 WORDS FOR THE
INITIAL POST. 250 WORDS FOR THE RESPONSE.
CLASSMATE 1 DISCUSSION (Patrick)
Cultural differences are the unique patterns of beliefs, behaviors, and social institutions
that vary across and within societies. They influence not only higher-order reasoning and
norms, but the basic perceptual processes and communication styles. Cultural
differences can be studied by comparing groups such as Canadians and Japanese, or
European-Americans and Guatemalan Mayans. Understanding cultural differences can
help avoid misunderstandings, stereotypes, and conflicts in diverse settings such as
workplaces, schools, and communities. Learning about cultural differences can also
enrich one’s own perspective and appreciation of other ways of living and thinking.
Cultural differences can be measured by six dimensions, such as individualism Many
cultures and sub-cultures use hand signals and other body language as non-verbal cues
that mark cultural distinctiveness. vs collectivism, power distance, uncertainty avoidance,
masculinity vs femininity, long-term vs short-term orientation, and indulgence vs
restraint. When we walk through our cities, new strokes, colors and styles of clothing
take us by surprise-those of foreigners from outside the European community, those
who remain outside the Europe of their dreams and do not enjoy the citizenship rights of
inhabitants of the European Union’s member states Garcia, Estela Rodriguez (2011).
Cultural diversity is the quality of diverse or different cultures, as opposed to
monoculture, the global monoculture, or a homogenization of cultures, akin to cultural
evolution. Cultural diversity can also refer to having different cultures respect each
other’s differences. Since Asia comprises many countries, with most of them having
distinct cultures of their own ((e.g., China, India), a singular cultural and counseling model
“Asians” may not be applicable to all Bhatt, Gira (2014). Where I work now, I experience
culture differences everyday there are over 600 clients that live in the facility on both
sides of the building top level and lower level, and each client come from a different
cultural. There are Asians, Hispanics, German, Hattian, European, and African American
and each culture is different. Sometimes we have clients clash with each other due to
the differences of their culture some cultures speak differently and others or aggressive,
and there are the louder ones that speak loudly with their mouth and hands. I get many
complaints from clients that share rooms want to move out of them and be placed in
another room if one is available for them. Then my job is to tell them that they would
have to write a grievance to their case manager for a request to move to another room.
There are other encounters where the men who are on the upper level that get into
fights over the television or the constant teasing each other that leads into fights and
calling out each other’s culture in a disrespectful way, which is an automatic right up and
a warning.
REFRENCES:
Garcia, Estela Rodriguez (2011)., The Challenge of Cultural Diversity in Europe: (Re)
designing Cultural Heritages through Intercultural Dialogue Human Architecture:
Journal of the Sociology of Self-Knowledge; Belmont Vol. 9, Iss 4, (Fall 2011): 49-
59
Bunce, John A. (2021) Cultural Diversity in Unequal Societies Sustained through crosscultural competence and Identity Valuation Humanities & Social Sciences
Communications; London Vol. 8, Iss 1, (Dec 2021). DOI: 10.1057/s41599-021-
00916-5
CLASSMATE 2 DISCUSSION (Roy)
Cultural Diversity is unique topic and within cultural diversity there are many ethnic
groups that have there on way of dressing, talking, eating different foods, religion and so
on so when we meet someone from another country, we already know that they will
speak different languages and dress different then we as Americans dress, [Khan. 2022].
Culture is taught from an early age, but cultural identity is something that is
developed throughout our life. When we look at the cultural diversity within the
workplace it is beneficial for any organization being that there are many different
thoughts that are from different people from cultures other than what we are used to
and that is beneficial for everyone, [Tanner, 2020].
Culture is a way of life for people belonging to a particular group that has come
together due to factors such as ethnicity, race, age, gender, or religion and within the
workplace diversity entails things such as, education, disabilities, or the way people
work.
Where I work there are many cultures that are within the rehabilitation facility and
within these cultures there are so many rules that these men go by and will not accept a
new way of solving simple problems, their way is what they believe the right way, [Dawn
Cecil, 2017].
Many inmates have been in prison before and know the system while being
incarcerated. These men undergo prisonization, where they adapt to and learn the
customs, rules, and culture of other inmates as well as institution regulations. There are
well over a thousand inmates within a facility and to prevent manipulation, correction
officers and staff must always be aware that these inmates will set them up in many
ways.
Within the facility we are told to listen and watch everything that goes on within the
facility and at the same time give the inmate space which is contrary to the first order.
We must go through a training process that teaches us how to communicate with the
inmate and be firm in our decision making as well as maintaining control over any
problem that arises, and in the same note were told to be respectful and help the inmate
in any capacity that will afford them to remain calm.
These are examples of policy and procedures; however, the main issue is whether the
prison system should focus more on rehabilitation or punishment, and this is
controversial problem now. People feel that rehabilitation will reduce recidivism as to
others who feel that punishment is the key to reduce recidivism. I believe that once a
person is incarcerated, they will have time to reflect on what they have done and not
want to be sent back to prison and this is my thought on topic, [Cornelius, 1992].
Reference
Prison in Popular
Culture, https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190264079.013.194Links to an
external site.
It Good to Be Different: How Diversity Impacts Judgments of Moral
Behavior, https://eds.s.ebsconhost.com.eds/detail?vid=527736db-0365-4cf8-b7acdeeb70dd1636%40redis&bdata=jkf.Links to an external site.
CLASSMATE 3 DISCUSSION (Kay)
In the AASW Code of Ethics, Section 4.1.4 titled ‘Professional Integrity’ under (e) states:
‘Social workers will ensure that professional relationships are not exploited to gain
personal, material or financial advantage’. (Weber, 2004)
In my profession as a social worker, I would note that being forced to participate in
holiday celebrations would be contrary to ethical values for a culturally diverse
workforce. Some cultures celebrate differently and on different days. The food they
consume, as well as their traditions might differ from what the company sees as
traditional. Holiday celebrations should not be required for all employees, only those that
choose on their own free will to participate.
Another issue I would see as unfair would be for a physician to give certain patients
information out due to their race, gender, etc. While cultural diversity is part of our
society and our workplace, we must never use that as a discrimination tactic. All
information passed through a counselor’s desk should remain one hundred percent
confidential at all times. This means that even if you know a family member or close
friend of the client, you may never share information. Cultural diversity is necessary for
the success of business; however, we must ensure that regardless of diversity all
information is kept private. Regardless of personal beliefs or the welfare of ourselves or
loved ones, client information should be discrete no matter what the situation.
Should any of these ethical codes be broken, I would suggest immediate termination on
the employee. In no way, shape, or form should one’s integrity and personal
information be compromised.
“It is inevitable to have conflict when you bring people from different cultural
backgrounds together,” he says. “It’s about how you manage the conflict. A lot of times
managers try to put together a multicultural workplace without trying to integrate
people better.” (Chua, 2013)
