OUR LADY OF FATIMA UNIVERSITY

Valenzuela City - Quezon City - Antipolo City – Pampanga – Cabanatuan

Veritas et Misericordia

Name:JIMBO D. VALERIANO Date:NOV 24

Program:BSN Section: 3Y1-4

WEEK
11
INTRODUCTI Developing Peaceful Co-Existence: “Cultural Sensitivity and
ON Tolerance”
Cultural sensitivity is being aware that cultural differences and similarities between people exist without
assigning them a value – positive or negative, better or worse, right or wrong. It simply means that you are aware that
people are not all the same and that you recognize that your culture is no better than any other culture. A challenge, if you
ask me, for members of dominant cultures.
In life and work environments we frequently face situations where there is a dominant and a secondary
culture. For instance, in the U.S. the European American is the dominant culture whereas Hispanic, African American
and Chinese cultures are all secondary.

Cultural sensitivity implies that both groups understand and respect each other’s characteristics. This is always a
challenge, and even more so in large corporations where the dominant culture is the one that employees are expected
to adopt.

LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of this module, you are expected to:
1) Understand the importance of cultural sensitivity in creating a culture of peace.
2) Reflect on the necessary actions that you need to sacrifice to achieve the culture of peace.
3) Value the differences of other cultures that make his world a better place.
MODULE LESSON

Many years ago, Milton Bennett developed a solid framework to understand the various stages of cultural
sensitivity (or as he calls it “intercultural sensitivity”) that a person may experience. He argues that as people become
more and more culturally sensitive, they progress from having an ethnocentric orientation to a more ethno-relative
worldview.

In Bennett’s words, “In general, the more ethnocentric orientations can be seen as ways of avoiding cultural
difference, either by denying its existence, by raising defenses against it, or by minimizing its importance. The more
ethno-relative worldviews are ways of seeking cultural difference, either by accepting its importance, by adapting
perspective to take it into account, or by integrating the whole concept into a definition of identity.”

Let’s look at the meaning of each one of these stages.

Ethnocentric stages of intercultural sensitivity: These three stages are: Denial, Defense and
Minimization.
Denial: At this stage of cultural sensitivity, people don’t recognize cultural differences and experiences. They
believe their culture is the only “real” one and they tend to interact in homogenous groups and to stereotype everyone else.
Example: People who say, “We are all the same and I don’t understand why we have to learn about the different groups
in the company. Why don’t they just learn how we do things in America?”

Defense: At the defense stage of cultural sensitivity, people recognize some differences, but see them as
negative because they assume their culture is the most evolved, the best one. Example: People who
say, “In Latin America, you can’t just get to the point and talk business. They want to tell you their life story. I don’t
understand why they can’t just learn to be more direct and save everybody time.”

Minimization: Individuals at this stage of cultural sensitivity are unaware that they are projecting their own
cultural values. They see their own values as superior. They think that the mere awareness of cultural differences is
enough. These people think we are all the same because we are more similar than different and, in the end, we all have
similar physical, biological, psychological needs etc. They think they are wonderful because they see people as people but
they are actually denying the influence of culture in every person’s experience. Example: Statements such as, “In the end,
we all want to be liked,” or, “We are all people.”

Ethno-relative stages of intercultural sensitivity: The three ethno-relative stages of intercultural sensitivity are:
Acceptance, Adaptation and Integration. Let’s see what they look like.
Acceptance: At this stage of cultural sensitivity people can shift perspectives to understand that the same
“ordinary” behavior can have different meanings in different cultures. They can identify how experiences are
influenced by one’s culture. They may not agree or even like the differences they observe but they are interested in
finding out and learning about another culture. Example: People who approach others with genuine interest and
curiosity about how they experience the same situations. They ask questions such as, “How do Dominicans do it?” or, “What
would your family do in a situation like this?”
Adaptation: Individuals who are at this stage of cultural sensitivity become more competent in their ability to
communicate with other cultures. They can evaluate other people’s behavior from these people’s frame of reference and
can adapt behavior to fit the norms of a different culture. Example: People who seamlessly interact with others from
different cultures by following the norms of that culture. They feel that they can respect their own values while adapting
to the values of other cultures they interact with. They use empathy effectively. For instance, people who bow at the right
time when interacting with Japanese clients or naturally expect their Mexican guests forty-five minutes after the scheduled
start time of a party.

Integration: People who are at this stage of cultural sensitivity can shift easily from one cultural frame of
reference to another. They develop empathy for other cultures. People who are equally comfortable with one culture or
another. Example: This stage is easy to see with perfectly bilingual/bicultural individuals who almost change their
personality when they interact with one group (their family, for instance) or another (their Anglo co-workers, for instance)
but they are equally genuine in both situations.

How far should you expect your team to go regarding their own cultural sensitivity?

Part of answering the question of what cultural sensitivity is, is to realize that one of the main purposes of
becoming more culturally competent is to become more effective in your relationships with colleagues, customers and
suppliers. Don’t expect for people to change their worldviews overnight or after a workshop or even an intensive program. It
is the cohesive introduction of opportunities for interaction with different cultures, training in the practice of empathy,
and practical exposure to the way different cultures experience a similar situation that will produce more sustainable
results.

MODULE ACTIVITY

1) Write the Capital Letter I on the next page.

2) Decorate it by drawing or coloring it with pictures that would symbolize their personalities and make it
beautiful.
3) You will be going to your groups to explain what you have drawn to make the “I” beautiful.
4) After explaining, you must tear your papers into small pieces and throw them in the trash can.
5) Answer the following questions at the back of this page.
Draw your “I” here
 Reflection:

What is the point of the activity or the significance of the act that they did in cultural sensitivity and tolerance?

The point is Understanding how cultural variations may affect and influence people when establishing
their unique personalities, perspectives, and relationships with others is made easier by embracing
cultural sensitivity and awareness. This will aid in preventing cultural conflicts at work. Being
culturally sensitive entails showing consideration for different cultures. People connect more
effectively and build meaningful relationships when they are aware of and appreciate different
cultures and affirm the differences and similarities between them.

Why do we need to leave behind or put aside our “I’s” or “Ego’s” in creating a culturally sensitive society?

We need to put aside our I and Ego these illusory ideals can only be used to strengthen the ego's sense
of separation, whether through imagined superiority or inferiority.
Freedom from the ignorance to which the separative ego tenaciously clings is one of the benefits of
acting on true values. This view of "I'"ego" is intimately linked to the concept of narcissism as well as
the notion that in order to give we are being "selfless" or "altruistic," subtly implying that we would be
going against our cultural sensitivity While mind and ego are not equivalent concepts, both are seen as
barriers to overcome, To obtain inner peace, we are told to calm the mind.By that we need to leave
behind or put aside our “I’s” or “Ego’s” in creating a culturally sensitive society

What did you feel about the activity?

The activity was a little challenging at first since I had to stop and carefully consider what the activity
was all about. But as the exercise progresses and I keep writing my responses, I gradually come to
realize the essence of the exercise and its aim. I'm happy that I didn't give up easy and rather than
attempted to interpret the activity rather than only providing words or replies without being prepared
and knowing it. I'm happy that I have the tenacity and bravery to study and comprehend things, even if
they seem difficult at first. Therefore, this action gives me greater confidence for my upcoming
endeavors and successes.

References