Culture, as it is widely understood, is related to one’s way of life. According to Zimmerman “Culture is the characteristics and knowledge of a particular group of people, encompassing language, religion, cuisine, social habits, music and arts.” As a result, culture permeates all facets of one’s life. In a world with ever-increasing diversity, cultural sensitivity, like linguistic sensitivity, is important to consider when working with people who may or may not share a similar background with the clinician. It is known that you do not have to be speak another language or be from another country or city to have a culture that differs from that of another person. It is crucial for clinicians to gain an understanding of differences and similarities between cultures for the purpose of forging common ground while learning to adjust to cultural differences. As clinicians, our role is to be objective while also being aware of and sensitive to subjective differences—a “one size fits all” approach does not work. So, how can we start the process of increasing our cultural sensitivity? Here are some ideas that incorporate your different senses:
- This might be surprising but you should find a reputable source to learn more about your culture. You might be amazed by what you find—this may help you to understand other people’s perspectives about you
- Find a reputable source to learn more about the culture of other groups
- This is crucial because unreliable sources may give you inaccurate information about others—assumptions are not useful in this context
- Learn to speak another language
- This is a great way to connect to others that speak another language—it is very likely that many doors will be opened for you
- Visit markets, shops, and restaurants where you can learn about other groups
- You can learn new words, try on some different garb, and try some new foods
- Go to a museum so that you can learn a bit about other cultures’ histories
- Visit or live in a place that has a culture different from your own
- Immersing yourself in another culture is one of the best ways to learn about others
- Befriend others from cultures different from your own
- Observe other groups and listen—take in all the different sights and sounds
Most importantly, disregard your assumptions, disregard your expectations of others, and have an open mind. Lastly, accept and embrace the differences. By learning about other cultures, you will learn many things that you may not have known beforehand. It’s important to note that you may not need to go far to learn about other cultures. This will contribute to you becoming a well-rounded, knowledgeable clinician.
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If you or someone you know needs the services of a licensed and certified speech-language pathologist, please be sure to discuss your concerns with a physician, a speech-language pathologist, or another qualified provider. You can also find a provider through the ASHA ProFind service or visit us at www.bilingualspeech.org for more information. Additional information on this topic can be found at stutteringhelp.org or at asha.org. NOTE: This article is intended only as a general source of information, i.e, it is not intended to replace information given to you by a qualified health professional that is familiar with your particular circumstances. Lastly, if you have an urgent medical need, please seek immediate medical attention.
REFERENCES
Zimmerman, K.A. Live Science: What is Culture? Retrieved from https://www.livescience.com/21478-what-is-culture-definition-of-culture.html on September 1, 2020.