Interview with Matilda Dijeng

Cultural Barriers

Matilda addressed the issue of cultural differences through her discussion of how

people viewed their bodies. She mentions how breasts are sexualized in the United States, but

not in Botswana. There were, also, cultural differences she experienced when she went back to

Botswana. In Botswana, not discussing urinary incontinence is the norm, and medications are

the common treatment for injuries. There is, also, the cultural barrier of stereotyping present,

due to Matilda being seen as “becoming too American”. In addition, while skin tone is a

biological trait, it has significant social meaning. Our society perceives skin tone as culture,

which Matilda discusses as she describes her interaction with the farmer.

Cultural Humility

Cultural humility requires us to be critical of our own cultural biases (Yaeger & Bauer-

Wu, 2013). Essentially, it is the reflection of those biases and how they relate to our values. It is

a process of constant self-evaluation biases (Yaeger & Bauer-Wu, 2013). Matilda mentioned her

cultural bias surrounding the United States and its homeless population. She failed to see that

her culture at home could mirror ours in some ways, but it is something she has come to realize

now. Matilda, also, practiced cultural humility when she self-reflected on the reasoning behind

women wearing dark-colored shawls. In this situation, she gained cultural knowledge and

awareness. The power imbalance, concerning women in her community, was directly affected

by Matilda addressing this issue and the stigma around it.

Increasing Cultural Competence

 When Matilda discussed homeless individuals within the United States, she didn’t follow

the story with any examples of self-awareness or acceptance of the differences. It was used as a

“funny” opening line and lacked a sense of respect for those experiencing a negative life event.

Matilda, also, didn’t show a great deal of acceptance of differences concerning how breasts are

viewed in the United States. She stated she didn’t understand the difference in value and

perception. In this situation, I would have liked to hear her opinion on why the United States

differs from Botswana on this topic. This would have given a greater sense of respect and

allowed for common ground to be achieved.

Additional Thoughts

In regards to the interview, I would have liked to hear about any linguistic differences

that Matilda experienced. The absence of a discussion surrounding linguistic competence,

doesn’t allow for a full picture of cultural competence. I, also, wonder if Matilda had issues

connecting with and understanding the culture when she was working in the United States. She

discusses how she utilizes effective communication and knowledge of a patient’s culture at

home, but not how it impacted her practice while in the United States. This interview drew

connections between cultural humility, stereotyping, and adaptation. However, more in-depth

descriptions would have allowed for a greater picture of cultural competency

 Reference

Yeager, K. A., & Bauer-Wu, S. (2013). Cultural humility: Essential foundation for clinical

researchers. Applied Nursing Research, 26(4), 251–256.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apnr.2013.06.008