Cross-cultural Awareness

What is Cross Culture Awareness?

 It is the diversity of ideas of different cultures found in societies all over the world.

 It consists of concepts of how others may view one’s own culture due to preconceived notions.

Notes: Cultural awareness is a major element of cultural competence and cultural humility. It is
foundational because without it, it is virtually impossible to acquire the attitudes, skills, and knowledge
that are essential to cultural competence and humility.

Levels of Cultural Awareness

Parochial Stage - "My way is the only way."

Note: At the first level, people are aware of their way of doing things, and their way is the only way. At
this stage, they ignore the impact of cultural differences.

Ethnocentric Stage - "I know their way, buy my way is better."

Note: At the second level, people are aware of other ways of doing things, but still consider their way as
the best one. In this stage, cultural differences are perceived as source of problems and people tend to
ignore them or reduce their significance.

Synergistic Stage - "My way and their ways."

Note: At this level people are aware of their own way of doing things and others’ ways of doing things,
and they chose the best way according to the situation. At this stage people realize that cultural
differences can lead both to problems and benefits and are willing to use cultural diversity to create new
solutions and alternatives.

Participatory Third Culture Stage - "Our way."

Note: his fourth and final stage brings people from different cultural background together for the creation
of a culture of shared meanings. People dialogue repeatedly with others, create new meanings, new rules
to meet the needs of a particular situation.

(Adler 1991) – Just explain.

Importance of Cultural Awareness

(Explain)

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Note: As a result, we remain open to the idea that other people’s cultures guide them in the same way
that our individual cultures guide us. This offers public health professionals a better chance of
interacting positively with, and appropriately serving, diverse communities. Such understandings are
particularly important for health professionals because cultural perspectives and beliefs profoundly
affect all aspects of people’s behavior with regard to health and well-being.