Exploring Diversity- Bridging Differences Across Beliefs, Generations, and Identities

Exploring Diversity- Bridging Differences Across Beliefs, Generations, and Identities

For this diversity project, I interviewed a 65-year-old cisgender African American male, JB. He is a war veteran currently working as a social worker. He subscribed to Islamic teaching despite not identifying himself as a Muslim. JB is recently divorced. He was chosen for the interview because of the apparent differences in culture and religious affiliations. Also, I am not related to him. He is of the baby boom generation and still holds in high accord with the teaching he obtained from his early developmental phases. JB was responsive and interactive. Notably, the interview took place at a local community center where he works.

Similarities and Differences Covered

The interview gave me insights into apparent inter-individual differences and similarities accustomed to age differences and culture. Being an Asian-American with roots traced back to the Philippines, my behavior and values are shaped by Filipino cultural attributes. Values such as respect when addressing the elderly, observance of the social hierarchy, warmth to others, and belief in the family have always defined my interpersonal interactions. This was also the case in the African American culture. JB noted that he has great respect for others and humanity at large, including people who are younger than him. He added that the essence of harmonious living requires that people respect each other’s values and belief systems. He also expressed his warmth and compassion when interacting with other people, noting that, from where he comes from, people love each other and enjoy living together. He also expressed his family’s first belief, noting that family is the most important source of psychosocial support. Overall, the African American and Filipino cultures were similar in aspects of human interactions, belief in the family system, and the observance of social hierarchy during interpersonal interaction.

Notwithstanding, some differences were uncovered during the interview. To begin with, differences in the patterns of communication were apparent. JB was more direct in his conversations, rarely used aligned facial expressions, and tended to be more formal despite mentioning that the tone of the interview was not formal. He also seemed not to understand some of the phrases I used. Cross-cultural communications may sometimes be problematic. Aririguzoh (2022) notes that differences in the communication patterns between different cultures may hinder effective cross-cultural communications. This may be the case in the interview.

There were also subtle differences in the perception of gender roles across generations. JB noted that his culture considers women to be housekeepers. In this respect, they should align themselves toward handling house chores, the children, and the family. While this is also true in Asian cultures, they are not an actual presentation of the perceived gender roles in the modern dispensation. Modern women are more than just house managers but they are also actively involved in active career duties (Zhu & Chang, 2019). This highlighted the apparent differences in perceptions attributed to the age gap.

Another difference was in religion and spirituality. JB noted that despite subscribing to Islamic teachings, his spiritual beliefs are still rooted in his culture. In this respect, he meditates a lot to connect with his gods and occasionally pays them some respect by praying while facing a specific direction. He also had a strong belief in African traditional medicine, noting that the African traditional medicine and other accompanying therapeutic modalities are what he uses to preserve his health. He is an anti-vaxer and had his children not vaccinated. This was not the case with my culture. I am a staunch Catholic with a strong belief in the conventional healthcare system. I also believe that vaccines are evidence-based strategies targeted at preserving community lives.

Aspects of the Interview that Were Most and Least Comfortable

The interview was most comfortable when the discussions were centered on cultural communications and interpersonal interaction. During this discussion, there were many similarities between the two cultures and interpersonal beliefs. The interviewee was also enthusiastic about his culture and was delighted to discover the similarities between the two cultures. The least comfortable part was on topics of sexuality and gender roles. I found it difficult to ask the interviewee questions about his sexual orientation and his perceptions of apparent gender roles in the African American culture.

How the Experience Assists Me in My Field

The interview widened my perspectives on the perceived cultural differences in diverse aspects. These included communication patterns, perceptions of gender roles, health-seeking behavior and belief in the healthcare system, and the role of family in wellness. Understanding these provisions will elevate my transculture caring abilities. The insights from the interview made me better understand the apparent differences in communication patterns across cultures, the belief system on health and wellness, and how I can better position myself to engage and work with people of diverse cultures. Understanding the communication patterns of different cultures is particularly important in establishing healthy therapeutic relationships with persons of different cultures (Brooks et al., 2019). By maintaining cultural awareness and recognizing perceptual differences in multiple cultural aspects, I will be better accountable when handling cross-cultural patients.

Conclusion

The interview gave me insight into many aspects of transcultural caring. I got to appreciate cultural differences within society and how perceptions differ on healthcare-related issues. As evident in the interview, many differences were discovered. The interview widened my perspectives on diversity. It highlighted areas where cultures differ and should be addressed in the resolve to elevate transcultural caring.

References

Aririguzoh, S. (2022). Communication competencies, culture, and SDGs: Effective processes to cross-cultural communication. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-022-01109-4

Brooks, L. A., Manias, E., & Bloomer, M. J. (2019). Culturally sensitive communication in healthcare: A concept analysis. Collegian, 26(3), 383–391. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colegn.2018.09.007

Zhu, N., & Chang, L. (2019). Evolved but not fixed: A life history account of gender roles and gender inequality. Frontiers in Psychology, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/

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You will interview someone different than you and write a 3-page paper (at least 700 words) describing your experience. The paper should be in double-spaced 12-point font Times New Roman and APA format.

Objective: To interview someone different from you. (Students are prohibited from interviewing family members or close friends, if they do it will result in a 0)

To find your interviewee, I have provided a list below as a start, you can choose your interviewee based on your differences below.

Exploring Diversity- Bridging Differences Across Beliefs, Generations, and Identities

For example, if you are Buddhist, you could choose to interview someone who is Jewish or you might interview someone from Generation X if you are from the baby boom generation. Remember that diversity is often not visibly apparent, below are some examples of diversity you can choose from.
( I am a Catholic and I am from the Philippines)

Class: Middle, upper, lower

Religion: Atheist/Agnostic, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, other

Nationality: U.S./American, Other

Race/Ethnicity: African American, Asian American, European American, Native American, Other

Age: GI generation (born between 1905-1924), silent generation (1925-1944), baby boom (1945-1964), generation X (1965-1984), generation Y (1985-2010)

Gender Identity: Woman, Man, Transgender, Other

Sexual Orientation: Asexual, Bisexual, Lesbian, Gay, Straight, Other

Ability: Visually impaired, hearing impaired, physically impaired, psychologically impaired, learning difference/disability, able-bodied/temporarily without impairments, other

The interview will allow you to have a conversation with someone and think critically about how your differences have shaped your life experiences. Use the following as a guide and write an essay following APA guidelines (please see APA guideline resources in modules):

Part 1: Introduction: Describe the context of the interview you interviewed, why they were selected, and where the interview took place.

Part 2: What similarities and differences were uncovered?

Part 3: What aspects of the interview were most and least comfortable for you? Why?

Part 4: How does this experience assist you in your field in healthcare and working with diverse patients?

Part 5: Conclusion: What key insights did you develop? What is the most significant thing you learned from the