The Influence of CultureThe Influence of Culture

Opening the Cultural DoorOpening the Cultural Door

Culture is like an icebergCulture is like an iceberg

Above the Above the surface?surface?

Below the Below the surface?surface?

Culture isCulture isthe values the values

beliefs beliefs

linguisticslinguistics

expressionexpression

patterns of thinkingpatterns of thinking

styles of communication styles of communication

that shape our behaviors, expectations and that shape our behaviors, expectations and reactions.reactions.

It goes beyond race and color to It goes beyond race and color to include ethnicity, physical include ethnicity, physical

characteristics and groups with characteristics and groups with similar values, experiences and similar values, experiences and

orientations/preferences.orientations/preferences.

Everyone has cultureEveryone has culture

Culture creates our world-viewCulture creates our world-view

What behaviors are appropriateWhat behaviors are appropriateWhat to fearWhat to fearHow one’s messages are received and How one’s messages are received and acted uponacted uponHow successful one is at getting one’s How successful one is at getting one’s needs met by othersneeds met by othersWhat emotions and intensity level one can What emotions and intensity level one can safely displaysafely displayHow interesting one isHow interesting one is

Ethnocentrism…Ethnocentrism…is the tendency to view ones is the tendency to view ones

own cultural group as the center own cultural group as the center of everything, the standard of everything, the standard against which all others are against which all others are

judged. It assumes one's own judged. It assumes one's own cultural patterns are correct and cultural patterns are correct and

the best ways of acting.the best ways of acting.

Becoming sensitive/responsive to Becoming sensitive/responsive to other culturesother cultures

Is an ongoing Is an ongoing processprocess

Built on Built on trusting trusting relationshipsrelationships

In order to render In order to render culturally sensitive culturally sensitive

and appropriate and appropriate care, it is necessary care, it is necessary to identify how one’s to identify how one’s

own cultural own cultural background impacts background impacts on ways of seeing on ways of seeing

and behaving.and behaving.

If caregiving is If caregiving is about developing about developing partnerships with partnerships with families, then we families, then we need to look at need to look at specific skills specific skills

which will promote which will promote this partnership.this partnership.

Keys to Keys to Culturally Culturally

Sensitive CareSensitive Care

Uncover your cultural beliefsUncover your cultural beliefs

Culture starts with youCulture starts with you

Be aware of your own Be aware of your own values/beliefs/biases and how values/beliefs/biases and how they impact on others.they impact on others.

Be open to the perspective of Be open to the perspective of othersothers

Acknowledge that your view is only Acknowledge that your view is only one of manyone of many

Be open to the way others see, do Be open to the way others see, do and understand thingsand understand things

Be aware of your discomforts or Be aware of your discomforts or sense of “right way” or “natural way” sense of “right way” or “natural way” to view things when conflicts arise.to view things when conflicts arise.

Seek out cultural and family Seek out cultural and family information.information.

Get information about family’s views, Get information about family’s views, beliefs and valuesbeliefs and values

Listen openly, actively to others’ Listen openly, actively to others’ experiences and viewsexperiences and views

Ask questions to understand Ask questions to understand

Clarify valuesClarify values

Be willing to risk talking about Be willing to risk talking about differencesdifferencesUnderstanding comes through Understanding comes through dialoguedialogueKeep focused on key issues and Keep focused on key issues and how these impact the child and how these impact the child and family.family.

Make environments relevantMake environments relevant

Materials should reflect the children and Materials should reflect the children and their culturetheir culture

Photos of themselves, their families, their Photos of themselves, their families, their communitycommunity

Artwork, photographs, music, food and Artwork, photographs, music, food and clothes do not by themselves create clothes do not by themselves create cultural continuitycultural continuity

Work toward representative staffingWork toward representative staffing

Look at “roles” of diverse staffLook at “roles” of diverse staff

Cultural representation at all levels of staff Cultural representation at all levels of staff and managementand management

Use the home languageUse the home language

Communication in child’s home language Communication in child’s home language supports child’s identification with family supports child’s identification with family and cultureand cultureIn “English only” care, a child may reject In “English only” care, a child may reject home languagehome languageBeing understood is important to Being understood is important to belongingbelongingAll written info should be translated All written info should be translated Interpreter should be availableInterpreter should be available

Understanding the development of Understanding the development of children’s racial identity, awareness children’s racial identity, awareness

and attitudesand attitudes

Especially if the Especially if the children in our children in our classroom are all (or classroom are all (or mostly) whitemostly) white

Very young children:Very young children:

Notice racial Notice racial distinctionsdistinctions

Absorb racially Absorb racially related images and related images and assumptionsassumptions

Begin to learn the Begin to learn the power codes or power codes or “rules” of race“rules” of race

internalize racial internalize racial superioritysuperiority

Even when the curriculum Even when the curriculum espouses explicit messages of espouses explicit messages of respect and equality, when respect and equality, when teachers and administrators are teachers and administrators are white, and support and white, and support and maintenance staff are people of maintenance staff are people of color, children learn about racial color, children learn about racial hierarchies.hierarchies.

Some themes from research on Some themes from research on children and racechildren and race

Young children are not colorblindYoung children are not colorblind

Infants as young as six months old react Infants as young as six months old react consistently to racial differences.consistently to racial differences.

Young children do pay attention to Young children do pay attention to messages of prejudice and power messages of prejudice and power differences.differences.

Preschoolers begin using racial terms and Preschoolers begin using racial terms and beliefs to exclude and demean classmates beliefs to exclude and demean classmates of colorof color

A child’s environment (family, A child’s environment (family, community, media and peers) community, media and peers) plays a critical role – positively plays a critical role – positively

or negatively.or negatively.

White children are more at risk than White children are more at risk than children of color for developing cross-race children of color for developing cross-race biases and aversions.biases and aversions.

(References found in your readings.)(References found in your readings.)

Activity: Activity: WalkaboutWalkabout