Transcript What is Multicultural Awareness? Multicultural Awareness is a

Developing our Multicultural
Awareness
by
Jay Barrett
What is Multicultural
Awareness?
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Multicultural Awareness is a
greater understanding,
sensitivity, and appreciation of
the history, values, experiences,
and lifestyles of groups that
include, but, are not limited to:
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Race
Ethnicity
Gender
Sexual Orientation
Religious Affiliation
Socio-economic Status
Mental/Physical Abilities
Why Should I Become More
Multiculturally Aware?
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Healing, harmony, and unity between
groups occur as we interact more with,
become more aware about, and become
better educated about one another.
It's a cause for celebration when we are
willing to take risks regarding our
multicultural growth.
Challenge yourself to unlock your endless
capacity for multicultural awareness.
It's up to you to do your part in creating a
society where there is greater
understanding and awareness between the
groups.
What Are Some Benefits of
Becoming More Multiculturally
Aware?
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Gain Greater Self-Awareness
Gain Greater Awareness of Others
Develop New Friendships
Develop Better Interpersonal Skills
Become Better Able to Challenge
Stereotypes and Prejudices
Promote More Healing and Harmony
Between Groups
Become Better Equipped to Live in a
Multicultural World
Pointers for Respectful
Interracial Communication?
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One step in building the bridge
toward racial harmony and tearing
down the walls of racism is that of
interracial communication.
While we all know that it is
sometimes emotionally difficult and
risky to speak candidly, openly, and
honestly about race, it is only through
this type of dialogue that we are able
to become more aware, sensitive, and
knowledgeable about each other.
Given that the topic of race can be a
sensitive and emotional area, it's
important to keep a few pointers in
mind.
Pointers for Interracial
Communication
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Do use "I" statements.
Do listen with respect.
Do restate what you've heard about
a person's experience.
Do allow questions, no matter how
trivial they may seem to you.
Do encourage clarification and
elaboration by asking for examples.
Don't try to debate or downplay a
person's experience.
Don't blame a person for the "sins"
of their racial group.
What Are Racial Stereotypes?
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Racial stereotypes are automatic and
exaggerated mental pictures that we
hold about all members of a particular
racial group.
When we stereotype people based on
race, we don't take into account
individual differences.
Because our racial stereotypes are so
rigid, we tend to ignore or discard any
information that is not consistent
with the stereotype that we have
developed about the racial group.
How Do We Develop Racial
Stereotypes?
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We develop our racial stereotypes in a
variety of ways. On a very simplistic
level, it's human nature to categorize
people.
It's our way of making a complex
world simpler. From an early age, we
learn to place people and objects into
categories.
However, when we're very young, we
tend to put less of an emphasis on
attributing values to these categories.
Stereotypes Continued
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As we grow older and are influenced by
parents, peers, and the media, our tendency
to label different racial groups as
superior/good or inferior/bad increases
significantly.
Additionally, the less contact we have with a
particular racial group, the more likely we
will have negative feelings about the group.
Also, any negative experiences that we
have with a member of a particular group
will strengthen our racial stereotypes and
create fears about particular races.
Based on our fears, we then develop an usversus-them mentality that tends to be selfprotective in nature. As a result, we miss
opportunities to learn and thrive from our
differences.
Are Our Racial Stereotypes Harmful?
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Some people might say, "There's no
harm in having racial stereotypes or
making racial/ethnic jokes based on
stereotypes.
People these days are so politically
correct and should just loosen up.
Anyway, there's always a kernel of
truth in every stereotype.
" In some instances, all of the above
might be true.
However, in most cases, racial
stereotypes are harmful because they
ignore the full humanity and
uniqueness of all people.
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When our perceptions of
different races are distorted
and stereotypical, it's
demeaning, devaluing,
limiting, and hurtful to
others.
In some cases, people who
are repeatedly labeled in
negative ways will begin to
develop feelings of
inferiority.
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Some times, these feelings of
inferiority can lead to selffulfilling prophecies that
perpetuate the stereotype.
Racial stereotypes can also
foster feelings of hate and
aggression that might lead to a
false sense of entitlement and
superiority.
For those individuals who have
power, this can lead to their
engaging in discriminatory and
racist practices.
How Do We Overcome Our
Racial Stereotypes?
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Because of their harmful
effects, we should make a
real commitment to try to
overcome our racial
stereotypes. This can be
achieved by first
acknowledging that we're
human and that we do harbor
racial stereotypes.
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Next, we should work to become
more aware of our inner
thoughts and feelings and how
they affect our beliefs and
actions.
When we have a stereotypical
thought about a racial group, we
should follow it up with an
alternative thought based on
factual information that
discounts the stereotype.
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We can obtain this factual information
by leaving our comfort zones and
exposing ourselves to people of
different races.
Also, we should be willing to engage
in honest dialogue with others about
race that at times might be difficult,
risky, and uncomfortable.
We should also seek out media
portrayals of different races that are
realistic and positive.
Attending churches, plays, concerts,
and movies that celebrate diversity
will also broaden our worldviews.
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As we gain more awareness and
knowledge about racial groups,
not only will our racial
stereotypes lessen, but we will
also become better equipped to
educate and challenge others
about their racial stereotypes.
As we change ourselves, we can
elicit changes in others through
our examples and the quality of
our conversations. In doing this,
we work to create a society in
which all races are valued,
appreciated, and embraced.
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What's Your Multicultural
Awareness Quotient?
Fill in the Blank with a
Multicultural Group
• When you hear the term ______,
what thoughts or images regarding
their behaviors, attitudes, and
lifestyles come to mind?
• What do you admire or respect
about ______?
• What experiences have you had that
had the greatest impact on your
present feelings toward ______?
Multicultural Awareness, Cont.
• How have significant others in your
life influenced your attitudes about
______?
• If you haven't had much contact with
______, what prevents this from
happening?
• When you have a prejudicial thought
or hear a prejudicial remark, how do
you handle it?
• What will you do today to increase
your multicultural awareness?
Suggestions for Increasing Your
Multicultural Awareness
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Celebrate a Multicultural Holiday
Visit an Ethnic Art Gallery or Museum
Volunteer at a School or Agency with
a Diverse Population
Attend a Church or Synagogue that
Has a Diverse Congregation
Visit Your Office of Multicultural
Student Affairs
Learn a Foreign Language or Sign
Language
Suggestions for Increasing Your
Multicultural Awareness, Cont.
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Invite a Friend to Lunch Who Is
Multiculturally Different From You
Take a Cultural Diversity Course
Go to an Ethnic Restaurant
Watch a Movie or Play with Racially
Diverse Actors/Actresses
Listen to Music by Artists Who Are
Multiculturally Different from You
Join a Club Committed to Diversity
Issues
Have Chat Sessions Concerning
Diversity Issues