5.8 Cultural Awareness in Communication
What is Culture?
“A social system of meaning and custom that is developed by a group of people to assure its adaptation and survival. These groups are distinguished by a set of unspoken rules that shape values, beliefs, habits, patterns of thinking, behaviours and styles of communication” (Institute for Democratic Renewal and Project Change Anti-Racism Initiative, 2000, p. 32). We have a habit of equating culture with ethnicity; however, culture can be cultivated anywhere people gather. Distinct cultures also form within cities, neighbourhoods, schools, workplaces, community associations, religious organizations, activism work, and family and friend groups (Cusick, 2022).
Culture is learned.
Behaviour-based on learned customs is not a bad thing, but it can create the problem of how to respond to cultural differences (Little, 2016)
Culture creates a sense of belonging.
When we embrace culture, we nurture our human need for connection, belonging, and purpose (Cusick, 2022)
Culture is innovative.
It is the repository of creative solutions, techniques, and technologies humans draw on to solve problems.
Culture is key to the way humans, as a species, have successfully adapted to the environment (Little, 2016)
Culture is restraining.
The intersection of cultures through globalization can allow people to reenvision and reinvent themselves, or it can remain rigid and restrict change (Little, 2016)
The Importance of Cultural Awareness in Communication
Cultural awareness plays a crucial role in effective communication across diverse populations. It refers to having an understanding and appreciation of different cultures, including their beliefs, values, norms, and customs. Here are some key reasons why cultural awareness is essential in communication:
Avoiding misunderstandings: Cultural differences can lead to misinterpretation of verbal and non-verbal cues. By being culturally aware, individuals can recognize and understand these differences, reducing the likelihood of miscommunication and misunderstandings.
Building trust and rapport: When people feel understood and respected in their cultural context, they are more likely to trust and engage in meaningful communication. Cultural awareness allows individuals to approach others with sensitivity and respect, fostering positive relationships and connections.
Overcoming stereotypes and biases: Cultural awareness helps challenge stereotypes and biases that can hinder effective communication. By acknowledging and appreciating different cultural perspectives, individuals can move beyond preconceived notions and engage in more open-minded and inclusive conversations.
Adapting communication styles: Cultures often have distinct communication styles, including direct or indirect communication, use of non-verbal cues, and varying levels of formality. Being aware of these differences enables individuals to adapt their communication styles to be more effective and respectful in different cultural contexts.
Enhancing empathy and perspective-taking: Cultural awareness encourages individuals to develop empathy and the ability to see the world from others’ perspectives. This understanding promotes better communication by considering diverse viewpoints and experiences, leading to more inclusive and constructive conversations.
Facilitating collaboration and teamwork: In today’s globalized world, many workplaces and communities are diverse, with people from various cultural backgrounds coming together. Cultural awareness fosters a collaborative and inclusive environment, enabling effective teamwork and cooperation across cultural boundaries.
Navigating cultural taboos and sensitivities: Different cultures have unique taboos and sensitivities that must be acknowledged and respected. Cultural awareness allows individuals to navigate these areas with care, avoiding unintentional offences or conflicts.
Overall, cultural awareness is vital for effective communication, particularly in diverse and multicultural settings. By understanding and appreciating different cultures, individuals can bridge gaps, foster understanding, and promote meaningful interactions, leading to more successful and harmonious relationships.
Equity-Deserving Groups
When we identify with the dominant culture of a society, we can lose sensitivity to understanding and empathizing with people of other social demographics. This image is a representation of different social identities within cultures.
Image Description
Sylvia Duckworth’s Wheel of Power/Privilege organizes the various identities of a person on a wheel, with the identities that hold the most power in our society placed at the centre and the identities that hold the least power in our society on the outskirts. The wheel is sectioned off into 12 categories, each marked by their own unique colour. In order of most powerful to least powerful, the text on the image reads:
- Citizenship: citizen, documented, undocumented
- Skin colour: white, different shades, dark
- Formal education: post-secondary, high school, elementary
- Ability: able-bodied, some disability, significant disability
- Sexuality: heterosexual; gay men; lesbian, bi, pan, asexual
- Neurodiversity: neurotypical, neuroatypical, significant neurodivergence
- Mental health: robust, mostly stable, vulnerable
- Body size: slim, average, large
- Housing: owns property, sheltered/renting, homeless
- Wealth: rich, middle class, poor
- Language: English, Learned English, non-English monolingual
- Gender: cisgender man; cisgender woman; trans, intersex, nonbinary
The wheel content is adapted into the chart below. As you navigate through, consider using the fill tool, highlight tool or bold tool to identify where your own identity falls.
| Identity Categories | Most Power | Neither the most powerful nor the least powerful | Least Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Citizenship | Citizen | Documented | Undocumented |
| Skin colour | White | Different shades | Dark |
| Formal Education | Post-Secondary | High school | Elementary |
| Ability | Able-Bodied | Some disability | Significant disability |
| Sexuality | Heterosexual | Gay men | Lesbian, bi, pan, asexual |
| Neurodiversity | Neurotypical | Some neurodivergence | Significant neurodivergence |
| Mental health | Robust | Mostly stable | Vulnerable |
| Body size | Slim | Average | Large |
| Housing | Owns property | Sheltered/renting | Homeless |
| Wealth | Rich | Middle Class | Poor |
| Language | English | Learned English | Non-English monolingual |
| Gender | Cisgender man | Cisgender woman | Trans, intersex, nonbinary |
Looking at the cells you’ve highlighted for yourself, what do you notice? Do most aspects of your identity fall in the most powerful area of the chart? Least?
“4.2: Positionality and Intersectionality” from Universal Design for Learning (UDL) for Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) by Darla Benton Kearney is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.
Intersectionality is a complex social structure that empowers people to not only recognize each individual experiences but also intersecting layers from different social identities (Thomas, n.d.). It acknowledges that “everyone has their own unique experiences of discrimination and privilege- Kimberlé Crenshaw” (Benton Kearney, 2022).
This image represents an example of how 12 social cultures (and more) can be identified, but also how they intersect and overlap – making each person experience unique. As a health care provider it is important to acknowledge and communicate based on diversity of patients, but understanding each person brings their own unique experiences that may impact their health treatment.
Image Description
In the graphic above, Sylvia Duckworth uses a Spirograph to illustrate the multitude of ways that social identities might intersect. The Spirograph is split into 12 overlapping circles, each numbered, connected to a specific social identity, and assigned a unique colour. To illustrate the intersections of the different social identities, where each circle intersects, a new shade of the original colour is visible (as would happen when mixing paint colours together). At a glance, the graphic shows all colours of the rainbow in different shades. The 12 social identities listed are: race, ethnicity, gender identity, class, language, religion, ability, sexuality, mental health, age, education, and body size. A quote from Kimberlé Crenshaw appears beneath the spirograph that reads “Intersectionality is a lens through which you can see where power comes and collides, where it locks and intersects. It is the acknowledgement that everyone has their own unique experiences of discrimination and privilege.”
“4.2: Positionality and Intersectionality” from Universal Design for Learning (UDL) for Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) by Darla Benton Kearney is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.
Adapted from “Cultural Awareness in Communication” by Tran and Vallaeys, © 2023 Fanshawe College.
