Complete the self-assessment (found on
blackboard) and blog about your
reaction to your completed assessment.
You do not need to submit your actual assessment.
I’ve completed the Cultural Diversity Self Assessment, and what I noticed first was that I got hung up on a few questions. I also really thought about the questions to put them in my life and come up with scenarios I’ve been in. I was a little disheartened with myself when I could not quickly circle 5 for ‘always’ on question #6 – which would mean that I never participated in jokes that are derogatory to any individual group. I do feel, off the bat, that I would never do that, but something made me think a little deeper on this question. The subtleness of negative or derogatory remarks towards an ethnic or racial group or handicap group, etc.; may mean that maybe, just maybe, I have participated by acknowledging or laughing or even smiling. So while I do not feel I participate in jokes, I still felt I could not candidly circle “5”….in the end I was OK with 4.5….whatever that might mean. The other stumbling point taking this assessment into consideration is question # 7. The question of having a friend of color means that I am culturally competent. The first reason I could not answer that was because “what does that mean, a person of color”? Is that phrase really used anymore? And, how can it be almost never, sometimes, or always? Once I could get pass that, I decided that I would think of the question on my terms…which might turn the question around to something like: While you have friends of diverse backgrounds, does that mean you are culturally competent. But that question would need to be answered with what is cultural competency…therefore the assessment made me think about cultural diversity, and that is a good thing. However, I think Question 7 should be deleted.
Hi Christine! I totally agree with you on Question 6. I think everyone's a little guilty of laughing/smiling though, so don't feel too bad! Great work.
Yes, the term, " person of color" is still used. Good questions to ponder. I do believe that there are people that only have white friends. Although it does seem strange to me in this day and age.
Hey everyone! Just to start off, my name is Vi Buily and I am a 3rd year student at Worcester State University. I have finished taking the Cultural Diversity Self Assessment and like Christine, had found myself stumbling on a few of the questions. I am Asian-American and I have experienced first hand what it feels like to not always fit in. I used to grow up hating the fact that I am Vietnamese because my family would not always follow the “American tradition,” and I always felt so different. Growing up I started to embrace and learned to love what my culture has to offer. Being able to speak two languages fluently, teaching my close friends the Vietnamese culture, and of course our food! Taking this assessment made me realize that sometimes people act differently to someone of different color without even being aware of it. For example nowadays, people use terms as “gay” and, “retarded” to describe a non-ideal situation or describe something in a negative way without hesitation as to how it can offend people around them. Some of the questions on this assessment such as question number six (“I do not participate in jokes that are derogatory to any individual group”) did have me stop and think momentarily to how I should answer honestly. I thought to myself, I do sometimes joke around in some manner that directs to certain groups of people but I laugh at myself as well. Although this doesn’t excuse my behavior, in my candid opinion, I feel like people should be able to laugh at certain things about themselves. I never use terms such as, “gay” or “retarded” but I occasionally may laugh or joke about stereotypes. I describe myself as being very open minded and always very welcoming to people of different race/culture. I love to learn what other cultures have to offer. I find that trying different foods is a good start!
Hi V! Without a doubt if you enjoy food and all its wonders, you can find common ground with many cultures. I feel that cultural competency would likely be achieved over time, as it is a broad term relating to not just food, but values as the relate to religious or spiritual beliefs, caste systems, and so many other aspects of any given culture. However, food is a great conduit to bringing out commonalities across diversities.
I just completed the Cultural Diversity self-assessment. I too stumbled over a few questions myself. I had to stop and think if I really did participate in any way in the joking and generalized attitudes and behaviors. When I was younger, I think I participated in these acts more. Now, I stop myself and think about what I am going to say first. Yes things do slip out now and then, but I am not perfect. I try to be mindful about others differences and learn what makes them different than me and accept those differences even if I do not believe the differences are right for me. I am a Nurse and have to encompass everyone’s culture and ethnicities in order to better care for my patients. I have to remember that everyone’s needs are different and have to incorporate them into their treatment plan so they can have the best care available. For instance, many cultures believe in the hot/cold effects on the body. So as a Nurse, I have to be aware that I have to incorporate this into their treatment. If I do not understand a treatment request from a patient, then I either ask them to explain or look it up. Overall, I think this assessment was just to bring to our own awareness of cultural diversity and maybe help us to work on any areas that we would like to change. Nena T.
Hi Nena, its interesting how when we are younger knowing about others cultures is not a nessessity, kids can just play together. As we get older, to be able to interact with others and especially in the workplace, we do have to be somewhat educated and sensitive to others beliefs and cultures.
I love your perspective from this as a nurse. I am a CNA and also thought about my job and how it affects my views and actions with culturally diverse people. When people are sick and need help it does not matter what race or ethnicity they are!
Hello everyone, my name is Danielle. I also completed the cultural diversity self assessment. I just want to start off by saying that growing up in my family we never talked about race or culture. Everyone was treated equally as long as they were a good person. My siblings and I had groups of friends from varying backgrounds. The first time I witnessed racism was from my grandfather who lived downstairs from us. He came here from Albania when he was just 15 years old, he also owned the three decker we lived in. He would not let us bring our black frinds into the yard with us so we used to sneak under his window so he wouldnt see us. He would actually use racial slurs in front of our friends. I remember talking with my brother about this when we were younger and we could not understand why he didnot like them just because of their color. My daughter is half Vietnamese, my husband is from Africa and my closest friends are all from different races/cultures. The reason I am saying this is because I have always been so open to other cultures and see everyone as humans first, I never realized that stereotypes become engrained in us no matter what. I never realized the white privledge that I was born with until I met my husband. He would often make comments like "I'm the only black person at this campsite", or "I wont get a call back from that job because of my name". I never realized that just because I dont have to worry about that stuff, that others do, and that makes me sad. In doing this assessment, I realized that I am pretty diverse, or at least try to be and that I do not take racism lightly. I found that I do have stereotyped ideas at times though, because even though it may be with friends or my husband, we do often make jokes about each others race or culture. We dont do this with any harmful intent, but more as a joke or a way of teasing each other. Because I'm able to make these jokes, they must come from my own stereotyped ideas I already have. Another thing that really hit me was number 19. That I am a product of my upbringing. I think now that maybe it was dangerous that my family never spoke about race because for a long time, I grew up thinking that racism was a thing of the past and that people "dont really think like that anymore", I think that was part of the white privledge I was afforded at birth. Because of this, I will make sure to have many open conversations with my children about these things. I was a little confused about question 24, and was not sure what was meant by "color blindness"?
Hi Danielle! I really enjoyed your post and I was really taken into this post when you started talking about 'white privilege'. I really never think about how hard some other races have it over Caucasians. Reading about what your husband has commented to you in the past really makes me realize that I am so unaware of how low other races can feel. This post opened up my eyes. Great job!
Hey Danielle, your post was very touching and I agree with Hannah. I often feel unbothered by racial comments because they do not affect me. I feel awful admitting this, but that is why it is so important to put yourself in situations where you place yourself in another person's or group's shoes before you make a comment that could be hurtful. Everyone is different and if everyone could just see that, I wonder what the world would be like. Thank you again for your post.
Hi Danielle: I enjoyed your post and your honesty in seeing the pros and cons of "the truth" of stereotypes. I think that the color blindness question is in regards to the sociological term that means negating ones culture and ethnicity and race. This is not the same as what you as a child felt. It sounds by your post that you were taught to love each person you encounter and embrace them as a person. Negation is usually a negative result.
Hi class! Just to introduce myself, my name is Hannah and I am a sophomore majoring in public health here at WSU! After completing the Cultural Diversity Self Assessment, I gained a new personal outlook on how unaware I am of how much I really don’t know about other cultures. I know that when I am either helping or around people with different cultural backgrounds I try to be as polite as I can be. Sometimes it is hard to understand some people and the reasons why or how they go about doing something. As I reflect on this assignment, it makes me think of a time when I was over my best friend Talin’s house right before the fall of my freshmen year at WSU. Going into my first year here, I planned on living on campus for many reasons. However, my friend Talin was planning on commuting from her house mostly because her father did not allow her to live on campus with me. Talin is a first generation Armenian American. Both of her parents were born and raised in Turkey and came here shortly after they wed. Since they did not grow up around American culture, Talin’s father had a hard time understanding why she wanted to live on campus, and most importantly why she wanted to move away from him. He took her idea as an insult. As much as I wanted my best friend by my side during our first year of college, I was not mad at her father for denying her request. Talin’s father was just brought up differently than I was, and there is no reason to be judgmental or offensive because of that. I am really excited for the continuation of this class and to learn more about different cultures and how health ties into them!
Hello everyone, my name is Angela and I am a junior in communication sciences and disorders. I know that in my future profession and throughout life I will come in contact with many different cultures. I am very happy to be enrolled in this course and I can't wait to learn new things about myself and those around me. As I was completing the cultural diversity self assessment, I often felt like I was seeing things I had always observed in a different light. I am always accepting of those around me, but sometimes it's so hard to get away and escape the common stereotypes that have been pushed into our brains since the time we were all young children. I feel myself judging others before I even know their stories. Many of the self assessment questions I so badly wanted to fill in the number five, but when I really thought about my past experiences, I decided otherwise. I feel like I often fall into the vicious cycle of those around me. I find myself engaging in cultural jokes with friends, even friends with different cultures. Although it is in a joking manner, I need to put myself in that person's shoes because even if he or she may look like they are enjoying the joke, deep down inside he or she could feel hurt. I want to stand up for equality but sometimes I'm afraid that I will not be heard or I will be laughed at. The truth is I need to be an individual and need to disengage with those who only bring others down. I believe that everyone plays an equal part in making this world beautiful. We need to accept that not everyone is going to live the same way we live.
Hi Angela: It does seem that we are all aware that we may be involved in jokes or even smiling at others who joke about other races or cultures. If you can turn yourself away from those who offend, it can be difficult, but practice standing up in small ways and be aware of it, that can help give you the strength you need and the courage you need to be taken seriously. Just being aware is the beginning of learning to respect others. Classes like this are good, it helps us to see who we are and yet no one is judging us. In your field, you certainly wouldn't expect your friends to make fun of stutters for instance. Maybe that is how you will find your strength in standing up for others. I know through the years, that is how I've done it; through something that I firmly believe in and is close to my heart or my situation.
Angela , I commend you on your honest post. I agree with Christine on several points of her response it definitely can be difficult to call attention to inappropriate comments or jokes when in a group of friends or family. I have been in those types of situations as well. I believe not everyone has the same skill set to rely on when addressing inappropriate or offensive behavior. I am more of an immediate and direct response type of person and will generally speak up .However I have seen others who may be equally offended or more so employ less obvious methods like leave the room , or maybe speak of it to others privately, some people even sever relationships through avoidance. The important thing is you are observing your environment and have identified a level of discomfort with something that results in increased stress for you and a making positive steps to address it.
Thank you so much for these posts! They are both very uplifting and I have employed many of these techniques at one time or another. I think you are definitely right Christine that it is very hard to turn away from those that offend. Instead, I should always stand up for what I believe in and be open to opinions that do not always fit in with my own because everyone deserves to have a voice.
First and formost we should know that we are safe. We don't have to make loud protest in order for change to occur. If we just stop laughing at jokes that perpetuate stereotypes, we are creating change.
I did not find myself surprised by either the questions on the self-assessment or my responses as I have spent quite a bit of time thinking about and discussing these very issues over the years. Our family is fairly diverse tracing both our living relatives and recent ancestors across cultures, races , continents and religions. Having a diverse family life or friendships does not however award one an automatic exemption from prejudiced opinions. It has been my experience that many individuals ( including some friends and family) allow the actions, words or behaviors of specific individuals to influence their views of entire segments of the population. On a personal level I try to challenge my own opinions and be honest with myself in an attempt to not allow any preconceived notion I may have to influence my interactions with others.
Grant, I agree with you my responses to these question where no surprise to me considering I have spent many years discussing these topics in various classes. I also like the point you bring up that even though you are culturally diverse you still can have prejudice opinions towards other races. I think it is very hard for most people to be completely not racist. And half the time the people are only being racist because they have heard other people being racist towards another race so they think it is okay that they partake in it as well since other people are doing it.
Hello all – just to introduce myself, I am Breanna and I am a senior here at WSU majoring in History. I have just completed the self- assessment and am not really surprised by my answers. What I did find interesting was my major (history) played a major factor in answering these questions. For example, while studying history you always have to be open to more than one interpretation towards a matter. What one person believes in history may be completely different than what someone else believes what happened in history. I understanding that everyone has a different view and I have to respect that even though I may not agree with what they believe or say. I do think that I am a diverse person. I grew up in Worcester and went to public school here. Worcester is a very diverse city especially the schools. Often my race (Caucasian) was the minority so from very early on I became used to being integrated with other races. That’s not to say that sometimes I didn’t feel out of place as a child. For example, when I was the only Caucasian girl in a room full of Spanish children and they all seemed to click together because they already knew each other or felt connected due to their race. But I do feel that I can successfully interact with people of different races and cultures since it is something I have been doing since a young age. And I do have friends who are different races and cultures from me who I get along great with and enjoy learning about their different cultures and practices. I really try not to be a judging person but I sometimes do. For example, question 20. I sometimes do take peoples characteristics into account when making a decision about their ability or competence. I typically will not judge somebody on their looks I really could care less what a person looks like. But sometimes you run into someone who just looks off or sketchy and you just know it trouble so you stay away. That would be the only time I would judge somebody’s characteristics.
I think you made a really great point about this connecting to your history major. It seems like that is extremely helpful for an exercise like this. I agree that you have to be open to many different interpretations about many things.
Hello Breanna, I also grew up in Worcester and went to public schools here. Like you, I always felt my race (Caucasian) was the minority. I can remember having many classes where I was the only Caucasian in the room and learned very early on that I was a part of a very diverse word. Even in most of social groups I was only Caucasian but no one made a fuss about those things because everyone accepted it. -Andrea D.
My name is Stephanie Curtis and I am a senior studying health education, planning on attending graduate school for nursing. I, like many of my peers was surprised at some of my answers for this cultural diversity self assessment. I think that we would all like to think (myself included) that we are very accepting of all cultures because we live in a part of the country with many different demographics and ethnicities. I was as honest as I could be while taking this assessment and one of the questions that stood out to me was #8 which stated that, I understand the lack of diversity in my social group may be perceived as excluding others. This question stood out to me because my small group of friends is not ethnically diverse at all. I never thought twice about that until now. In my work I am around people of many different ethnicities and races. I am a CNA and treat every resident the same. So I very strongly agree that "color blindness" is counter productive and only does harm to everyone involved. My other job as a nanny allows me to teach and educate the children about being accepting of everyone. I 100% agree that we are a product of our upbringing but that there are valid beliefs other than my own. I am very open to learning about and experiencing other ethnicities. To work in the health field it is very important to be open and understanding of all different types of people. This assessment definitely helped me look at diversity from another perspective. I admit that I do not have a whole lot of experience with people of various ethnicities so I feel uneducated about most. This assessment was eye opening to me that I need to make more of an effort to get involved and become aware of those who are ethnically diverse
Hi Stephanie ,being a nurse you would meet a vase array of different cultures and so many ways people of different cultures approach medicine.I worked as a CNA in high school and was given the pleasure of meeting so many people from different back grounds .When i worked as a CNA it was a learning experience that I very much enjoyed.Also You tend to see a lot of people that don't have a diverse group of people in their circle ,I don't particularly think that is all about not been accepting of others.Its more of finding people that you have things in common with .
I also took some time to think about question number 8 because I too have a group of friends which is not very culturally diverse. It's not because I am not accepting of other cultures, but maybe my circle of friends growing up is a product of my upbringing in the way my mother chose to connect with parents who were culturally like her to set up play dates and such. I too feel that I have very little knowledge about other cultures, which I was reminded of after completing this assessment, and I do wish I was more culturally competent in order to better connect to the culturally diverse families I work with.
Hi everyone ,My name is lawrencia Gomashie ,Most people call me lauren :) .I too took the cultural diversity assessment .I tried to be very honest as well .I have developed a very unique aspect solely because my parents came here when they were very young.They immigrated to the united states when they were all quite young.I come from a household were the cultural background of my parents(Ghanaian)was a major influence for us kids.It was at times conflicting for me trying to emerge myself in the American culture whilst acknowledging the cultural influence of my parents.As a result I feel I have this strong attraction to be around people of different backgrounds and enjoy knowing people of all background.The question that I scored the least on was q 3,4 and 21.I think after all my years dealing with stereotypes and preconceived notions ,I have given up or dont care much about changing peoples perceptions they might have because of stereotypes.I have accepted that people will always have these notions of stereotyping others and instead of trying to prove other wise its best to be yourself and letting them come to their own conclusions.conclusions. Q3 challenging others when they make racial ,ethnic or sexually offensive remarks used to be something that mattered.In all honesty ,I feel in this day and age if someone is still at that level ,then its probably a lost cause.In general I do believe people genuinely care about each other and try to make the effort to be inclusive of all diversities.I make the effort to have a vase of different backgrounds ,and it shouldn't be difficult for others to do so.I do believe having an inclusive of friends in your circle does reflect on us .
Hello Laurencia :) first of all I have to say I love your name, I have honestly never heard it before. Secondly, I feel the same way as you do about not caring as much to try and change people. After growing up around it and seeing what little speaking up actually does, its just not always worth it. People usually wont change simply because you do not agree with a stereotype they believe in and honestly people have a right to think what they want and if they don't like a certain ethnic group they can go...well you know what they can go do haha -Andrea D.
Hello everyone! My name is Andrea D’alio and I am a senior majoring in communications. After taking the Cultural Diversity Self Assessment, I have learned that I tend to keep quiet and keep to myself when it comes to diversity. For example with question 4 “I challenge others when they make racial/ethnic/sexually offensive comments or jokes” I answered with a 2. The only time and place I would speak up in this instance would be in a professional work environment and only if I knew someone was taking offense to it. Every single person makes some sort of racial or sexual joke in their life and for the most part they do not mean what they say, they just think it’s funny. If a person meant this to seriously offend someone then of course it would be wrong but otherwise we really can’t stop people from cracking a joke. On question 14 “I work to make sure people who are different from me are heard an accepted” I answered with almost never. I am the type of person who doesn’t speak up and believe that if someone really wants to be heard and accepted they are the ones who need to make it happen, not someone else and regardless of their race. Some people may consider this harsh but in my opinion people are people despite their race and in every race you are going to have the people that make fun, are offensive, or racist. I wouldn’t quite say that I am “color blindness” because although I may not speak up all the time, I never forget a person’s culture or history. I do not discriminate against any race or make decisions about people based on race. I have had friends from many different ethnicities and love learning more about their cultures. My boyfriend’s family participates in an exchange program and recently had a girl from Spain living with them and I have to say it was one of the most educational experiences I have been a part of. She learned many things about our culture but we also gained so much knowledge about hers. I look forward to many more years of exchange students and cannot wait to one day be a member of the program as well. -Andrea D.
I agree with you. I usually do not speak up or challenge those whom make derogatory comments, out of fear. Many make racial comments/slurs and freedom of speech enables that. However, I do not feel as though it is not right by any means.
"Every single person makes some sort of racial or sexual joke in their life and for the most part they do not mean what they say, they just think it’s funny." The thing about these kinds of jokes are that they reinforce stereotypes. As the privileged group its easy to laugh at these jokes because we're so used to the constant othering of diverse groups that it seems like the norm. Unfortunately if we don't speak up we're just as guilty as the person making the joke (this is one of the many reasons rape culture is such an issue in high schools right now). If you think it's inappropriate in a work environment, then chances are it's inappropriate in general. I think we're afraid to say something in these situations because we don't want to be "othered" or teased, which is kind of ironic.
Hello, Everyone! My name is Brittany Kosiba and I am in my final semester at Worcester State. I will be completing my BS in psychology (yay!).
I did not find the results of the self assessment to be surprising. I work in a human resources office at a large private university, working primarily with international students and faculty. On a daily basis, I meet and interact with people from all over the globe. I have to constantly self-monitor, making sure that I treat people kindly and fairly - somedays I find it difficult when there is a significant language barrier, or when another person's perception of polite and acceptable behavior does not match my own definition. Awareness that another person's perceptions are quite different based on their national heritage, upbringing, family and other factors. On question that I had not previously given much thought to was "I understand why a lack of diversity in my social circle may be perceived as excluding others." As a person of the cultural majority. I suppose that I never has a need to consider it.
My workplace is so vastly diverse that in my three years there, I have never heard any make a racially or ethnically offensive joke or comment. In my personal, life I have not shied away from making it known when a statement is offensive. I do tend to be a vocal person, but in general, I think that injustice and discrimination should not be tolerated - speaking up is the right thing to do, even when it is uncomfortable.
I look forward to interacting with you all over the next semester. Best of luck to you all!
I didn’t find my answers to the questions surprising either. I’m guilty of not speaking up on the many occasions where I should have said how I truly felt. I agree with you that speaking up is definitely the right thing to do even if it’s uncomfortable and if you’re the only one speaking up. Others may be thinking the same way and if one person speaks up it may lead to others voicing their true feelings as well. It’s hard to be the first one to speak up especially against a group of people even though you know it’s the right thing to do. Hopefully it would lead to people changing how they talk and view others. - Andrew K.
My name is Andrew and I am a senior studying Criminal Justice here at Worcester State. After completing the survey and really thinking about each question I realized that I do not speak up as often as I should especially when I read question number 5. The question dealt with speaking up when you witness someone being humiliated or discriminated. For that question I circled 1, almost never. The same applies for question 4 as well. Although I may not laugh when someone says something offensive I don’t speak up and tell them they shouldn’t talk like that. In a way not speaking up is almost as bad as making the joke in the first place. If people don’t show resistance to insensitive jokes then the jokes will continue to happen. Although I keep to myself and mind my own business all the time, I think if someone is being humiliated or bullied people including myself should stick up for them. Bullying has become a big deal in our society today and the only way to stop people from being bullied is to speak up and help them instead of not speaking up. I was also taught at a very young age that everyone should be treated equally; we are all human no matter what we look like on the outside. - Andrew Kladas
I think that your honesty and frankness is noble to share here. I find that speaking out is intimidating and not at all easy, but if you can get past the initial fear, speaking up can be encoring both to you and to the person whom you are defending.
Everyone deserves dignity and fair treatment, but we are also all imperfect humans. It is impossible to completely uproot bias and discrimination, but we can certainly make a small difference.
I agree with you whole-kindheartedly. The only way to stop bullying id to speak up. Being a former victim of bullying I can tell you, I spoke up for myself and everyone began to praise me instead of tease me. I also was taught that everyone should be equal and i realized it even more because I was different, never judge a book by its cover!
I love the way you think! We are all at different places in regard to this issue. Some people are not ready to speak up! One thing that I want you all to remember is your safety! I do speak up, but if I found myself amongst KKK members I would have to evaluate how to use my voice.
My names Tiana. I grew up as a minority in my own family. My mother and father were never together. She's white, He's black. I grew up with big curly black hair and wore Lilly Pulitzer. I grew up "white" so to say, meaning i was only raised by my white family rather than my black family. Im 21 years old and just met my black family a little over 3 years ago, before i started college. I've lived on Worcester's West-side my entire life, not "well-off" by any means. I've experienced no shortage of racism and stereotypical events. I carry around a Louis Vuitton bag and the store clerks follow me around the store. What I'm trying to say is its not about what you wear or what you have, Its more than likely about your skin color, which is very sad. My grandmother always made sure i had all the cool things all the other kids had, making sure I didn't feel different or left out because of my skin color and big hair. But my childhood was a challenge for me. I was teased alot. Kids always thought i was dirty, because my skin isn't as dark as the next African-American child but is not as light as theirs either. They always thought it was funny to throw things in my hair (I couldn't even begin tell you how many jars of peanut butter we went through trying to get this one glob of chewing gum out). I would come home crying everyday because of something that was said to me or something that had happened. My poor mother was beside herself. She had never wanted this for me. Fast forward to high school and college and suddenly big curly hair and light-tanned skin is "in". Im not being teased anymore, but why? Why did I go through all this teasing for everyone to grow up and get perms & live in a tanning booth? Being said, I almost never discriminate when it comes to having friends or being in a relationship. Color isn't a choice, neither is that family you are raised. I truely believe that you are your own person. I will always be grateful for my family and how they have raised me, but to watch another person suffer as i once had, i will stand up for them even if i don't know them from a hole in the wall.
Hi Tiana: Yes that is very said. The reality is children can be very mean. I am not black or half black and I grew up with a large family, but I had/have dark freckles on one side of my forehead. I walked to school and got severely picked on. But not all through my childhood years, just for a couple of them. I was called spot, and at some point some kids threw bones to me. I grew up in Queens, NYC. I begged my doctor to find a way to get rid of my freckles, you wouldn't believe some of the things I tried to rid myself of my "ridicule".When I was 18 and taking the bus and subway to work, older ladies mostly, would say "honey, you have mud on your face." One day...a funky temporary person in the company asked me where I got that done...as if it were a tattoo. I realize it is not the same extent, as your childhood, but it is childhood ignorance and lack of understanding of consequences, where do kids learn to be so mean and why do they not learn to be nice. In 5th grade, on a dare, my friends and I would walk to school, ring doorbells and run. Well someone told my mom. I was grounded and lectured. What I remember most about that, is that my mom explained to me that the doorbell I rang may have been a house where an elderly person lived, or a sick person, etc. Obviously it made an impact on me because I never did that again, and I still remember it, that was a long time ago!
Children learn what they live. I am so sorry that you had that experience! Both of you! I think most of us have something that has happened that has changed us! Please know that I'm thank ful to have you in class and look forward to reading your blogs.
Hi Guys! Just to introduce myself quickly, my name is Jennifer Lacasse, and I am a public health major. After taking the self-assessment, I found myself not too shocked by my answers. I place a lot of value on differences throughout the world, and love learning about different cultures. However, I feel as though some of my answers should have been better. For example, number 25 I found that I have stereotyped men/women and gender roles, and usually in shallow joke forms. I think it is fairly common, however. I face stereotypes, as I am a single (divorced) Mom to a two year old boy. I am a statistic, and get the comments from others to reiterate the fact. Being judged for ethnicity, religions, cultural beliefs, and even choices is not easy. Whether it be in the form of socialization or future prospects. The unfortunate truth is that it happens, however. My answers did not emphasize that, but others may. I was raised to value people for who they are, and not what they are. I think that is a core value, and I pride myself on my ability to befriend anyone no matter how diverse.
While completing my self-assessment I noticed that as I read through the questions there were some that I could answer without any hesitation, such as number 19. I understand that I’m a product of my upbringing and believe there are valid beliefs other than my own and 20. I do not take physical characteristics into account when interacting with others and when making decisions about competence or ability; however others I had to really stop and think about. For example, question number 12. I connect easily with people who do not look like me and am able to communicate easily and 14. I work to make sure people who are different from me are heard and accepted, I found that I had to first think about my daily interactions and remember a time when I might have been faced with such decisions, and whether my answers were based on my own discomfort or lack of opportunity. I am a preschool teacher and in my nearly six years of teaching I have worked with many culturally diverse families. I understand the importance of making families of all cultures and ethnicities feel valued and welcome as equals, but I also understand the value of embracing cultural differences, especially when it comes to teaching young children. In my teaching atmosphere it is very easy for me to connect and communicate with the children and families I work with, because I strive form relationships with them to create a trusting learning experience. I also find it easy and part of my job to help the children of my class feel heard and accepted no matter their cultural background, because I believe in nurturing self-esteem and teaching respect with young children. However I think outside of my work environment, reaching out to people of differing cultures does not come as naturally to me, which I believe is in part to a lack of both comfort and exposure. Answering some of these questions made me feel almost guilty in a way, as if to imply by answering “almost never” to certain questions meant I don’t try hard enough to connect with other cultures or stand up for members of an ethnic group. I know that as an individual I am always respectful and open minded towards people regardless of their ethnic or cultural background, and even though I am well aware of my own bias, lack of knowledge, and hesitations when experiencing encounters with people who are different from me, I think on the revere end of things people who are cultural different from me probably have their own bias and preconceived notions about my culture. Overall this self-assessment really made me think about how I see myself and others and how my way of thinking can be outwardly projected in the way I handle social situations with people of varying cultures and ethnicities. I hope this class will continue to provoke my thoughts and questions as well as broaden my cultural knowledge.
I believe is it a good assessment tool to assess ones opinion on the cultural diversity but I would suggest,”item7” should be structured well because I understand that person of color typically refers to individual of non European heritage. Since I am black when I got to item 7, I was quite confused because I feel it is directed to Whites only.
I've done a few activities like this in other classes because I concentrate in women's studies so I'm not really surprised about my results. I do however think my answers are very different than they would have been before I took an interest in feminism, and learned about intersectionality. One of the things I always notice in these assessments is how much more I identify as a woman, than as a white woman. As much as I like to think I understand intersectionality, I always think of my oppression as a woman rather than my privilege as a white woman.
This is used as a self assessment tool. Often times these tools are created with the majority group in mind. I appreciate your comment and will have further discussion with Jennifer. Thanks for your honesty.
Tiana, you are definitely a positive influence in the society we live in. We are surrounded by a lot of ignorance and lack of understanding. Hopefully from this course, we can all try to make a better effort and help gain awareness to those around us.
I’ve completed the Cultural Diversity Self Assessment, and what I noticed first was that I got hung up on a few questions. I also really thought about the questions to put them in my life and come up with scenarios I’ve been in. I was a little disheartened with myself when I could not quickly circle 5 for ‘always’ on question #6 – which would mean that I never participated in jokes that are derogatory to any individual group. I do feel, off the bat, that I would never do that, but something made me think a little deeper on this question. The subtleness of negative or derogatory remarks towards an ethnic or racial group or handicap group, etc.; may mean that maybe, just maybe, I have participated by acknowledging or laughing or even smiling. So while I do not feel I participate in jokes, I still felt I could not candidly circle “5”….in the end I was OK with 4.5….whatever that might mean.
ReplyDeleteThe other stumbling point taking this assessment into consideration is question # 7. The question of having a friend of color means that I am culturally competent. The first reason I could not answer that was because “what does that mean, a person of color”? Is that phrase really used anymore? And, how can it be almost never, sometimes, or always? Once I could get pass that, I decided that I would think of the question on my terms…which might turn the question around to something like: While you have friends of diverse backgrounds, does that mean you are culturally competent. But that question would need to be answered with what is cultural competency…therefore the assessment made me think about cultural diversity, and that is a good thing. However, I think Question 7 should be deleted.
Hi Christine! I totally agree with you on Question 6. I think everyone's a little guilty of laughing/smiling though, so don't feel too bad! Great work.
DeleteYes, the term, " person of color" is still used. Good questions to ponder. I do believe that there are people that only have white friends. Although it does seem strange to me in this day and age.
DeleteHey everyone! Just to start off, my name is Vi Buily and I am a 3rd year student at Worcester State University. I have finished taking the Cultural Diversity Self Assessment and like Christine, had found myself stumbling on a few of the questions. I am Asian-American and I have experienced first hand what it feels like to not always fit in. I used to grow up hating the fact that I am Vietnamese because my family would not always follow the “American tradition,” and I always felt so different.
ReplyDeleteGrowing up I started to embrace and learned to love what my culture has to offer. Being able to speak two languages fluently, teaching my close friends the Vietnamese culture, and of course our food! Taking this assessment made me realize that sometimes people act differently to someone of different color without even being aware of it. For example nowadays, people use terms as “gay” and, “retarded” to describe a non-ideal situation or describe something in a negative way without hesitation as to how it can offend people around them. Some of the questions on this assessment such as question number six (“I do not participate in jokes that are derogatory to any individual group”) did have me stop and think momentarily to how I should answer honestly. I thought to myself, I do sometimes joke around in some manner that directs to certain groups of people but I laugh at myself as well. Although this doesn’t excuse my behavior, in my candid opinion, I feel like people should be able to laugh at certain things about themselves. I never use terms such as, “gay” or “retarded” but I occasionally may laugh or joke about stereotypes. I describe myself as being very open minded and always very welcoming to people of different race/culture. I love to learn what other cultures have to offer. I find that trying different foods is a good start!
Vi B.
Hi V!
ReplyDeleteWithout a doubt if you enjoy food and all its wonders, you can find common ground with many cultures. I feel that cultural competency would likely be achieved over time, as it is a broad term relating to not just food, but values as the relate to religious or spiritual beliefs, caste systems, and so many other aspects of any given culture. However, food is a great conduit to bringing out commonalities across diversities.
I just completed the Cultural Diversity self-assessment. I too stumbled over a few questions myself. I had to stop and think if I really did participate in any way in the joking and generalized attitudes and behaviors. When I was younger, I think I participated in these acts more. Now, I stop myself and think about what I am going to say first. Yes things do slip out now and then, but I am not perfect. I try to be mindful about others differences and learn what makes them different than me and accept those differences even if I do not believe the differences are right for me. I am a Nurse and have to encompass everyone’s culture and ethnicities in order to better care for my patients. I have to remember that everyone’s needs are different and have to incorporate them into their treatment plan so they can have the best care available. For instance, many cultures believe in the hot/cold effects on the body. So as a Nurse, I have to be aware that I have to incorporate this into their treatment. If I do not understand a treatment request from a patient, then I either ask them to explain or look it up. Overall, I think this assessment was just to bring to our own awareness of cultural diversity and maybe help us to work on any areas that we would like to change.
ReplyDeleteNena T.
Hi Nena,
Deleteits interesting how when we are younger knowing about others cultures is not a nessessity, kids can just play together. As we get older, to be able to interact with others and especially in the workplace, we do have to be somewhat educated and sensitive to others beliefs and cultures.
I love your perspective from this as a nurse. I am a CNA and also thought about my job and how it affects my views and actions with culturally diverse people. When people are sick and need help it does not matter what race or ethnicity they are!
DeleteHello everyone, my name is Danielle. I also completed the cultural diversity self assessment. I just want to start off by saying that growing up in my family we never talked about race or culture. Everyone was treated equally as long as they were a good person. My siblings and I had groups of friends from varying backgrounds. The first time I witnessed racism was from my grandfather who lived downstairs from us. He came here from Albania when he was just 15 years old, he also owned the three decker we lived in. He would not let us bring our black frinds into the yard with us so we used to sneak under his window so he wouldnt see us. He would actually use racial slurs in front of our friends. I remember talking with my brother about this when we were younger and we could not understand why he didnot like them just because of their color.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter is half Vietnamese, my husband is from Africa and my closest friends are all from different races/cultures. The reason I am saying this is because I have always been so open to other cultures and see everyone as humans first, I never realized that stereotypes become engrained in us no matter what. I never realized the white privledge that I was born with until I met my husband. He would often make comments like "I'm the only black person at this campsite", or "I wont get a call back from that job because of my name". I never realized that just because I dont have to worry about that stuff, that others do, and that makes me sad.
In doing this assessment, I realized that I am pretty diverse, or at least try to be and that I do not take racism lightly. I found that I do have stereotyped ideas at times though, because even though it may be with friends or my husband, we do often make jokes about each others race or culture. We dont do this with any harmful intent, but more as a joke or a way of teasing each other. Because I'm able to make these jokes, they must come from my own stereotyped ideas I already have. Another thing that really hit me was number 19. That I am a product of my upbringing. I think now that maybe it was dangerous that my family never spoke about race because for a long time, I grew up thinking that racism was a thing of the past and that people "dont really think like that anymore", I think that was part of the white privledge I was afforded at birth. Because of this, I will make sure to have many open conversations with my children about these things. I was a little confused about question 24, and was not sure what was meant by "color blindness"?
Hi Danielle! I really enjoyed your post and I was really taken into this post when you started talking about 'white privilege'. I really never think about how hard some other races have it over Caucasians. Reading about what your husband has commented to you in the past really makes me realize that I am so unaware of how low other races can feel. This post opened up my eyes. Great job!
DeleteHey Danielle, your post was very touching and I agree with Hannah. I often feel unbothered by racial comments because they do not affect me. I feel awful admitting this, but that is why it is so important to put yourself in situations where you place yourself in another person's or group's shoes before you make a comment that could be hurtful. Everyone is different and if everyone could just see that, I wonder what the world would be like. Thank you again for your post.
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DeleteColor blindness is when people say, "I don't see color."
DeleteHi Danielle:
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your post and your honesty in seeing the pros and cons of "the truth" of stereotypes. I think that the color blindness question is in regards to the sociological term that means negating ones culture and ethnicity and race. This is not the same as what you as a child felt. It sounds by your post that you were taught to love each person you encounter and embrace them as a person. Negation is usually a negative result.
Hi class! Just to introduce myself, my name is Hannah and I am a sophomore majoring in public health here at WSU! After completing the Cultural Diversity Self Assessment, I gained a new personal outlook on how unaware I am of how much I really don’t know about other cultures. I know that when I am either helping or around people with different cultural backgrounds I try to be as polite as I can be. Sometimes it is hard to understand some people and the reasons why or how they go about doing something. As I reflect on this assignment, it makes me think of a time when I was over my best friend Talin’s house right before the fall of my freshmen year at WSU. Going into my first year here, I planned on living on campus for many reasons. However, my friend Talin was planning on commuting from her house mostly because her father did not allow her to live on campus with me. Talin is a first generation Armenian American. Both of her parents were born and raised in Turkey and came here shortly after they wed. Since they did not grow up around American culture, Talin’s father had a hard time understanding why she wanted to live on campus, and most importantly why she wanted to move away from him. He took her idea as an insult. As much as I wanted my best friend by my side during our first year of college, I was not mad at her father for denying her request. Talin’s father was just brought up differently than I was, and there is no reason to be judgmental or offensive because of that. I am really excited for the continuation of this class and to learn more about different cultures and how health ties into them!
ReplyDeleteHello everyone, my name is Angela and I am a junior in communication sciences and disorders. I know that in my future profession and throughout life I will come in contact with many different cultures. I am very happy to be enrolled in this course and I can't wait to learn new things about myself and those around me.
ReplyDeleteAs I was completing the cultural diversity self assessment, I often felt like I was seeing things I had always observed in a different light. I am always accepting of those around me, but sometimes it's so hard to get away and escape the common stereotypes that have been pushed into our brains since the time we were all young children. I feel myself judging others before I even know their stories.
Many of the self assessment questions I so badly wanted to fill in the number five, but when I really thought about my past experiences, I decided otherwise. I feel like I often fall into the vicious cycle of those around me. I find myself engaging in cultural jokes with friends, even friends with different cultures. Although it is in a joking manner, I need to put myself in that person's shoes because even if he or she may look like they are enjoying the joke, deep down inside he or she could feel hurt. I want to stand up for equality but sometimes I'm afraid that I will not be heard or I will be laughed at. The truth is I need to be an individual and need to disengage with those who only bring others down. I believe that everyone plays an equal part in making this world beautiful. We need to accept that not everyone is going to live the same way we live.
Hi Angela: It does seem that we are all aware that we may be involved in jokes or even smiling at others who joke about other races or cultures. If you can turn yourself away from those who offend, it can be difficult, but practice standing up in small ways and be aware of it, that can help give you the strength you need and the courage you need to be taken seriously. Just being aware is the beginning of learning to respect others. Classes like this are good, it helps us to see who we are and yet no one is judging us. In your field, you certainly wouldn't expect your friends to make fun of stutters for instance. Maybe that is how you will find your strength in standing up for others. I know through the years, that is how I've done it; through something that I firmly believe in and is close to my heart or my situation.
DeleteAngela ,
DeleteI commend you on your honest post. I agree with Christine on several points of her response it definitely can be difficult to call attention to inappropriate comments or jokes when in a group of friends or family. I have been in those types of situations as well. I believe not everyone has the same skill set to rely on when addressing inappropriate or offensive behavior. I am more of an immediate and direct response type of person and will generally speak up .However I have seen others who may be equally offended or more so employ less obvious methods like leave the room , or maybe speak of it to others privately, some people even sever relationships through avoidance. The important thing is you are observing your environment and have identified a level of discomfort with something that results in increased stress for you and a making positive steps to address it.
Thank you so much for these posts! They are both very uplifting and I have employed many of these techniques at one time or another. I think you are definitely right Christine that it is very hard to turn away from those that offend. Instead, I should always stand up for what I believe in and be open to opinions that do not always fit in with my own because everyone deserves to have a voice.
DeleteFirst and formost we should know that we are safe. We don't have to make loud protest in order for change to occur. If we just stop laughing at jokes that perpetuate stereotypes, we are creating change.
DeleteI did not find myself surprised by either the questions on the self-assessment or my responses as I have spent quite a bit of time thinking about and discussing these very issues over the years. Our family is fairly diverse tracing both our living relatives and recent ancestors across cultures, races , continents and religions. Having a diverse family life or friendships does not however award one an automatic exemption from prejudiced opinions. It has been my experience that many individuals ( including some friends and family) allow the actions, words or behaviors of specific individuals to influence their views of entire segments of the population. On a personal level I try to challenge my own opinions and be honest with myself in an attempt to not allow any preconceived notion I may have to influence my interactions with others.
ReplyDeleteGrant, I agree with you my responses to these question where no surprise to me considering I have spent many years discussing these topics in various classes. I also like the point you bring up that even though you are culturally diverse you still can have prejudice opinions towards other races. I think it is very hard for most people to be completely not racist. And half the time the people are only being racist because they have heard other people being racist towards another race so they think it is okay that they partake in it as well since other people are doing it.
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ReplyDeleteHello all – just to introduce myself, I am Breanna and I am a senior here at WSU majoring in History. I have just completed the self- assessment and am not really surprised by my answers. What I did find interesting was my major (history) played a major factor in answering these questions. For example, while studying history you always have to be open to more than one interpretation towards a matter. What one person believes in history may be completely different than what someone else believes what happened in history. I understanding that everyone has a different view and I have to respect that even though I may not agree with what they believe or say.
ReplyDeleteI do think that I am a diverse person. I grew up in Worcester and went to public school here. Worcester is a very diverse city especially the schools. Often my race (Caucasian) was the minority so from very early on I became used to being integrated with other races. That’s not to say that sometimes I didn’t feel out of place as a child. For example, when I was the only Caucasian girl in a room full of Spanish children and they all seemed to click together because they already knew each other or felt connected due to their race. But I do feel that I can successfully interact with people of different races and cultures since it is something I have been doing since a young age. And I do have friends who are different races and cultures from me who I get along great with and enjoy learning about their different cultures and practices.
I really try not to be a judging person but I sometimes do. For example, question 20. I sometimes do take peoples characteristics into account when making a decision about their ability or competence. I typically will not judge somebody on their looks I really could care less what a person looks like. But sometimes you run into someone who just looks off or sketchy and you just know it trouble so you stay away. That would be the only time I would judge somebody’s characteristics.
I think you made a really great point about this connecting to your history major. It seems like that is extremely helpful for an exercise like this. I agree that you have to be open to many different interpretations about many things.
DeleteHello Breanna, I also grew up in Worcester and went to public schools here. Like you, I always felt my race (Caucasian) was the minority. I can remember having many classes where I was the only Caucasian in the room and learned very early on that I was a part of a very diverse word. Even in most of social groups I was only Caucasian but no one made a fuss about those things because everyone accepted it.
Delete-Andrea D.
My name is Stephanie Curtis and I am a senior studying health education, planning on attending graduate school for nursing. I, like many of my peers was surprised at some of my answers for this cultural diversity self assessment. I think that we would all like to think (myself included) that we are very accepting of all cultures because we live in a part of the country with many different demographics and ethnicities. I was as honest as I could be while taking this assessment and one of the questions that stood out to me was #8 which stated that, I understand the lack of diversity in my social group may be perceived as excluding others. This question stood out to me because my small group of friends is not ethnically diverse at all. I never thought twice about that until now. In my work I am around people of many different ethnicities and races. I am a CNA and treat every resident the same. So I very strongly agree that "color blindness" is counter productive and only does harm to everyone involved. My other job as a nanny allows me to teach and educate the children about being accepting of everyone. I 100% agree that we are a product of our upbringing but that there are valid beliefs other than my own. I am very open to learning about and experiencing other ethnicities. To work in the health field it is very important to be open and understanding of all different types of people. This assessment definitely helped me look at diversity from another perspective. I admit that I do not have a whole lot of experience with people of various ethnicities so I feel uneducated about most. This assessment was eye opening to me that I need to make more of an effort to get involved and become aware of those who are ethnically diverse
ReplyDeleteHi Stephanie ,being a nurse you would meet a vase array of different cultures and so many ways people of different cultures approach medicine.I worked as a CNA in high school and was given the pleasure of meeting so many people from different back grounds .When i worked as a CNA it was a learning experience that I very much enjoyed.Also You tend to see a lot of people that don't have a diverse group of people in their circle ,I don't particularly think that is all about not been accepting of others.Its more of finding people that you have things in common with .
DeleteI also took some time to think about question number 8 because I too have a group of friends which is not very culturally diverse. It's not because I am not accepting of other cultures, but maybe my circle of friends growing up is a product of my upbringing in the way my mother chose to connect with parents who were culturally like her to set up play dates and such. I too feel that I have very little knowledge about other cultures, which I was reminded of after completing this assessment, and I do wish I was more culturally competent in order to better connect to the culturally diverse families I work with.
DeleteHi everyone ,My name is lawrencia Gomashie ,Most people call me lauren :) .I too took the cultural diversity assessment .I tried to be very honest as well .I have developed a very unique aspect solely because my parents came here when they were very young.They immigrated to the united states when they were all quite young.I come from a household were the cultural background of my parents(Ghanaian)was a major influence for us kids.It was at times conflicting for me trying to emerge myself in the American culture whilst acknowledging the cultural influence of my parents.As a result I feel I have this strong attraction to be around people of different backgrounds and enjoy knowing people of all background.The question that I scored the least on was q 3,4 and 21.I think after all my years dealing with stereotypes and preconceived notions ,I have given up or dont care much about changing peoples perceptions they might have because of stereotypes.I have accepted that people will always have these notions of stereotyping others and instead of trying to prove other wise its best to be yourself and letting them come to their own conclusions.conclusions. Q3 challenging others when they make racial ,ethnic or sexually offensive remarks used to be something that mattered.In all honesty ,I feel in this day and age if someone is still at that level ,then its probably a lost cause.In general I do believe people genuinely care about each other and try to make the effort to be inclusive of all diversities.I make the effort to have a vase of different backgrounds ,and it shouldn't be difficult for others to do so.I do believe having an inclusive of friends in your circle does reflect on us .
ReplyDeleteHello Laurencia :) first of all I have to say I love your name, I have honestly never heard it before. Secondly, I feel the same way as you do about not caring as much to try and change people. After growing up around it and seeing what little speaking up actually does, its just not always worth it. People usually wont change simply because you do not agree with a stereotype they believe in and honestly people have a right to think what they want and if they don't like a certain ethnic group they can go...well you know what they can go do haha
Delete-Andrea D.
lol thank you ..i think my dad wanted a boy to name lawrence
DeleteLove a little humor! This is a heavy topic!
DeleteHello everyone! My name is Andrea D’alio and I am a senior majoring in communications. After taking the Cultural Diversity Self Assessment, I have learned that I tend to keep quiet and keep to myself when it comes to diversity. For example with question 4 “I challenge others when they make racial/ethnic/sexually offensive comments or jokes” I answered with a 2. The only time and place I would speak up in this instance would be in a professional work environment and only if I knew someone was taking offense to it. Every single person makes some sort of racial or sexual joke in their life and for the most part they do not mean what they say, they just think it’s funny. If a person meant this to seriously offend someone then of course it would be wrong but otherwise we really can’t stop people from cracking a joke. On question 14 “I work to make sure people who are different from me are heard an accepted” I answered with almost never. I am the type of person who doesn’t speak up and believe that if someone really wants to be heard and accepted they are the ones who need to make it happen, not someone else and regardless of their race. Some people may consider this harsh but in my opinion people are people despite their race and in every race you are going to have the people that make fun, are offensive, or racist. I wouldn’t quite say that I am “color blindness” because although I may not speak up all the time, I never forget a person’s culture or history. I do not discriminate against any race or make decisions about people based on race. I have had friends from many different ethnicities and love learning more about their cultures. My boyfriend’s family participates in an exchange program and recently had a girl from Spain living with them and I have to say it was one of the most educational experiences I have been a part of. She learned many things about our culture but we also gained so much knowledge about hers. I look forward to many more years of exchange students and cannot wait to one day be a member of the program as well.
ReplyDelete-Andrea D.
I agree with you. I usually do not speak up or challenge those whom make derogatory comments, out of fear. Many make racial comments/slurs and freedom of speech enables that. However, I do not feel as though it is not right by any means.
Delete"Every single person makes some sort of racial or sexual joke in their life and for the most part they do not mean what they say, they just think it’s funny." The thing about these kinds of jokes are that they reinforce stereotypes. As the privileged group its easy to laugh at these jokes because we're so used to the constant othering of diverse groups that it seems like the norm. Unfortunately if we don't speak up we're just as guilty as the person making the joke (this is one of the many reasons rape culture is such an issue in high schools right now). If you think it's inappropriate in a work environment, then chances are it's inappropriate in general. I think we're afraid to say something in these situations because we don't want to be "othered" or teased, which is kind of ironic.
DeleteHello, Everyone! My name is Brittany Kosiba and I am in my final semester at Worcester State. I will be completing my BS in psychology (yay!).
ReplyDeleteI did not find the results of the self assessment to be surprising. I work in a human resources office at a large private university, working primarily with international students and faculty. On a daily basis, I meet and interact with people from all over the globe. I have to constantly self-monitor, making sure that I treat people kindly and fairly - somedays I find it difficult when there is a significant language barrier, or when another person's perception of polite and acceptable behavior does not match my own definition. Awareness that another person's perceptions are quite different based on their national heritage, upbringing, family and other factors. On question that I had not previously given much thought to was "I understand why a lack of diversity in my social circle may be perceived as excluding others." As a person of the cultural majority. I suppose that I never has a need to consider it.
My workplace is so vastly diverse that in my three years there, I have never heard any make a racially or ethnically offensive joke or comment. In my personal, life I have not shied away from making it known when a statement is offensive. I do tend to be a vocal person, but in general, I think that injustice and discrimination should not be tolerated - speaking up is the right thing to do, even when it is uncomfortable.
I look forward to interacting with you all over the next semester. Best of luck to you all!
I didn’t find my answers to the questions surprising either. I’m guilty of not speaking up on the many occasions where I should have said how I truly felt. I agree with you that speaking up is definitely the right thing to do even if it’s uncomfortable and if you’re the only one speaking up. Others may be thinking the same way and if one person speaks up it may lead to others voicing their true feelings as well. It’s hard to be the first one to speak up especially against a group of people even though you know it’s the right thing to do. Hopefully it would lead to people changing how they talk and view others.
Delete- Andrew K.
My name is Andrew and I am a senior studying Criminal Justice here at Worcester State. After completing the survey and really thinking about each question I realized that I do not speak up as often as I should especially when I read question number 5. The question dealt with speaking up when you witness someone being humiliated or discriminated. For that question I circled 1, almost never. The same applies for question 4 as well. Although I may not laugh when someone says something offensive I don’t speak up and tell them they shouldn’t talk like that. In a way not speaking up is almost as bad as making the joke in the first place. If people don’t show resistance to insensitive jokes then the jokes will continue to happen. Although I keep to myself and mind my own business all the time, I think if someone is being humiliated or bullied people including myself should stick up for them. Bullying has become a big deal in our society today and the only way to stop people from being bullied is to speak up and help them instead of not speaking up. I was also taught at a very young age that everyone should be treated equally; we are all human no matter what we look like on the outside.
ReplyDelete- Andrew Kladas
Hi Andrew,
DeleteI think that your honesty and frankness is noble to share here. I find that speaking out is intimidating and not at all easy, but if you can get past the initial fear, speaking up can be encoring both to you and to the person whom you are defending.
Everyone deserves dignity and fair treatment, but we are also all imperfect humans. It is impossible to completely uproot bias and discrimination, but we can certainly make a small difference.
I agree with you whole-kindheartedly. The only way to stop bullying id to speak up. Being a former victim of bullying I can tell you, I spoke up for myself and everyone began to praise me instead of tease me. I also was taught that everyone should be equal and i realized it even more because I was different, never judge a book by its cover!
DeleteI love the way you think! We are all at different places in regard to this issue. Some people are not ready to speak up! One thing that I want you all to remember is your safety! I do speak up, but if I found myself amongst KKK members I would have to evaluate how to use my voice.
DeleteMy names Tiana. I grew up as a minority in my own family. My mother and father were never together. She's white, He's black. I grew up with big curly black hair and wore Lilly Pulitzer. I grew up "white" so to say, meaning i was only raised by my white family rather than my black family. Im 21 years old and just met my black family a little over 3 years ago, before i started college. I've lived on Worcester's West-side my entire life, not "well-off" by any means. I've experienced no shortage of racism and stereotypical events. I carry around a Louis Vuitton bag and the store clerks follow me around the store. What I'm trying to say is its not about what you wear or what you have, Its more than likely about your skin color, which is very sad. My grandmother always made sure i had all the cool things all the other kids had, making sure I didn't feel different or left out because of my skin color and big hair. But my childhood was a challenge for me. I was teased alot. Kids always thought i was dirty, because my skin isn't as dark as the next African-American child but is not as light as theirs either. They always thought it was funny to throw things in my hair (I couldn't even begin tell you how many jars of peanut butter we went through trying to get this one glob of chewing gum out). I would come home crying everyday because of something that was said to me or something that had happened. My poor mother was beside herself. She had never wanted this for me. Fast forward to high school and college and suddenly big curly hair and light-tanned skin is "in". Im not being teased anymore, but why? Why did I go through all this teasing for everyone to grow up and get perms & live in a tanning booth? Being said, I almost never discriminate when it comes to having friends or being in a relationship. Color isn't a choice, neither is that family you are raised. I truely believe that you are your own person. I will always be grateful for my family and how they have raised me, but to watch another person suffer as i once had, i will stand up for them even if i don't know them from a hole in the wall.
ReplyDeleteHi Tiana: Yes that is very said. The reality is children can be very mean. I am not black or half black and I grew up with a large family, but I had/have dark freckles on one side of my forehead. I walked to school and got severely picked on. But not all through my childhood years, just for a couple of them. I was called spot, and at some point some kids threw bones to me. I grew up in Queens, NYC. I begged my doctor to find a way to get rid of my freckles, you wouldn't believe some of the things I tried to rid myself of my "ridicule".When I was 18 and taking the bus and subway to work, older ladies mostly, would say "honey, you have mud on your face." One day...a funky temporary person in the company asked me where I got that done...as if it were a tattoo. I realize it is not the same extent, as your childhood, but it is childhood ignorance and lack of understanding of consequences, where do kids learn to be so mean and why do they not learn to be nice.
DeleteIn 5th grade, on a dare, my friends and I would walk to school, ring doorbells and run. Well someone told my mom. I was grounded and lectured. What I remember most about that, is that my mom explained to me that the doorbell I rang may have been a house where an elderly person lived, or a sick person, etc. Obviously it made an impact on me because I never did that again, and I still remember it, that was a long time ago!
Children learn what they live. I am so sorry that you had that experience! Both of you! I think most of us have something that has happened that has changed us! Please know that I'm thank ful to have you in class and look forward to reading your blogs.
DeleteHi Guys! Just to introduce myself quickly, my name is Jennifer Lacasse, and I am a public health major.
ReplyDeleteAfter taking the self-assessment, I found myself not too shocked by my answers. I place a lot of value on differences throughout the world, and love learning about different cultures. However, I feel as though some of my answers should have been better. For example, number 25 I found that I have stereotyped men/women and gender roles, and usually in shallow joke forms. I think it is fairly common, however. I face stereotypes, as I am a single (divorced) Mom to a two year old boy. I am a statistic, and get the comments from others to reiterate the fact. Being judged for ethnicity, religions, cultural beliefs, and even choices is not easy. Whether it be in the form of socialization or future prospects. The unfortunate truth is that it happens, however. My answers did not emphasize that, but others may. I was raised to value people for who they are, and not what they are. I think that is a core value, and I pride myself on my ability to befriend anyone no matter how diverse.
While completing my self-assessment I noticed that as I read through the questions there were some that I could answer without any hesitation, such as number 19. I understand that I’m a product of my upbringing and believe there are valid beliefs other than my own and 20. I do not take physical characteristics into account when interacting with others and when making decisions about competence or ability; however others I had to really stop and think about. For example, question number 12. I connect easily with people who do not look like me and am able to communicate easily and 14. I work to make sure people who are different from me are heard and accepted, I found that I had to first think about my daily interactions and remember a time when I might have been faced with such decisions, and whether my answers were based on my own discomfort or lack of opportunity.
ReplyDeleteI am a preschool teacher and in my nearly six years of teaching I have worked with many culturally diverse families. I understand the importance of making families of all cultures and ethnicities feel valued and welcome as equals, but I also understand the value of embracing cultural differences, especially when it comes to teaching young children. In my teaching atmosphere it is very easy for me to connect and communicate with the children and families I work with, because I strive form relationships with them to create a trusting learning experience. I also find it easy and part of my job to help the children of my class feel heard and accepted no matter their cultural background, because I believe in nurturing self-esteem and teaching respect with young children. However I think outside of my work environment, reaching out to people of differing cultures does not come as naturally to me, which I believe is in part to a lack of both comfort and exposure.
Answering some of these questions made me feel almost guilty in a way, as if to imply by answering “almost never” to certain questions meant I don’t try hard enough to connect with other cultures or stand up for members of an ethnic group. I know that as an individual I am always respectful and open minded towards people regardless of their ethnic or cultural background, and even though I am well aware of my own bias, lack of knowledge, and hesitations when experiencing encounters with people who are different from me, I think on the revere end of things people who are cultural different from me probably have their own bias and preconceived notions about my culture.
Overall this self-assessment really made me think about how I see myself and others and how my way of thinking can be outwardly projected in the way I handle social situations with people of varying cultures and ethnicities. I hope this class will continue to provoke my thoughts and questions as well as broaden my cultural knowledge.
Sally E.
I believe is it a good assessment tool to assess ones opinion on the cultural diversity but I would suggest,”item7” should be structured well because I understand that person of color typically refers to individual of non European heritage. Since I am black when I got to item 7, I was quite confused because I feel it is directed to Whites only.
ReplyDeleteI've done a few activities like this in other classes because I concentrate in women's studies so I'm not really surprised about my results. I do however think my answers are very different than they would have been before I took an interest in feminism, and learned about intersectionality. One of the things I always notice in these assessments is how much more I identify as a woman, than as a white woman. As much as I like to think I understand intersectionality, I always think of my oppression as a woman rather than my privilege as a white woman.
ReplyDeleteChelsea S.
This is used as a self assessment tool. Often times these tools are created with the majority group in mind. I appreciate your comment and will have further discussion with Jennifer. Thanks for your honesty.
DeleteTiana I am sorry for what you went through. Am glad that you have come out of it and its made you a strong person and who yoy are now.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much. I have grown to be a very grateful young woman.
DeleteTiana, you are definitely a positive influence in the society we live in. We are surrounded by a lot of ignorance and lack of understanding. Hopefully from this course, we can all try to make a better effort and help gain awareness to those around us.
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