Cultural Awareness

Identify your chosen scenario and conflict.

Scenario #2-Personal
It’s the time of year when you gather with friends and family. Recent events in the news that impact different cultures have caused differences of opinion related to issues of justice and fairness, creating conflict with those you care about. You are hosting the next holiday celebration with your family members and friends with diverse thoughts and opinions.

Part One: Social Justice (Complete this section in Module Two.)

1. Explain the difference between justice, fairness, and equality in the scenario.
   In a social setting, the concepts of justice, fairness, and equality can often be overlooked under the presumption that there is a collective perspective. According to Killen (2018), justice relates to the outcomes. For instance, in believing that everyone deserves to enjoy the event, efforts must be in place to incorporate all individuals. Secondly, fairness is defined as ensuring that everyone feels that they can contribute and benefit towards a positive experience (Killen, 2018). Finally, equality means that everyone receives the same treatment at the event (Killen, 2018).
2. Describe how bias can influence your perception of social justice in the scenario.
   An area of bias that is expected in this scenario is the belief that all parties have a common perception of a positive experience because they share a common point of interest such as the host. However, it is important to remember that each member has a different background and relationship with the host that could affect their values and expectations.
3. Describe how different narratives in society can impact your perception of social justice.
   An area of impact on perceptions of social justice is personal experience. As personal expectations of a positive experience can impact how the event is planned, this could lead to the integration of foods, music, and activities that reflect an individual’s values. Although sharing one’s own perceptions is important to diversity and inclusion, it is further important to consider the personal narratives of others. Experiencing other cultures and ways of life would help to reduce the impact of personal experiences on elements of social justice.
4. Describe the core principles of social justice in the scenario.
   In this situation, many of the guests would feel obligated to attend, but they might not feel comfortable in voicing their expectations of the event. It would be important to speak to others, directly, when planning the event to make certain that all perspectives are represented and justice, fairness, and equality are included. By learning more about their expectations for the gathering, the event would be a more positive and inclusive experience for everyone.

Part Two: Intercultural Communication and Collaboration

1. Describe how you would demonstrate cultural fluency in the scenario.
   In this scenario, I would demonstrate cultural fluency by recognizing the unique struggles that people from different cultures may experience. I would make sure that I comprehend the experiences of the individuals who represent different cultures and value all the opinions and sides to realize if some people were treated unfairly. I would take time to listen to the perspectives of different family members who have different cultural roots, support their opinions, and address their concerns.
2. Describe how cultural fluency benefits your self-awareness.
   Cultural fluency benefits my self-awareness because it allows me to look at the world through the lenses of people with different cultures. It allows me to be aware of various beliefs and convictions people of different cultures have. I recognize that people of different cultures may even be stigmatized by the color of their skin (Budhwani & De, 2019). By understanding that the experiences of all people are influenced by their culture, I reflect that my culture also has its imprint on me, my views, and my behavior.
3. Describe how an awareness of other cultures can benefit interpersonal communication with people in the scenario.
   Being culturally aware, I can find an individual approach to each guest of the celebration. In the dialogue with each individual, I would be able to speak with them, comprehend their concerns, and show awareness of their unique perspectives, which may vary depending on their cultures. This way, I can find common ground with each guest by showing understanding.
4. Describe how exposure to diverse backgrounds can positively influence communication in the scenario.
   Although all the guests may have been conflicting because they had different perspectives, the diverse backgrounds can, in contrast, be used to enhance mutual understanding. If all the members at the celebration I host would express their concerns and viewpoints in a friendly manner, without blaming each other, it would lead to de-escalation of the conflict.
5. Explain why an awareness of diversity is beneficial to collaboration in the scenario.
   In the role of the host, I should encourage all the guests to be more open-minded and sympathetic to each other and try to take different perspectives. Sharing the backgrounds with each other would be a good method to improve the awareness of all the guests and make them understand each other.

Part Three: Communication Strategies to Navigate Conflict (Complete this section in Module Five.)

1. Describe the components of the conflict represented in the scenario.
   [Insert response here.]
2. Describe different interpersonal communication strategies that can be used in conflict resolution.
   [Insert response here.]
3. Choose an appropriate communication strategy you would employ in the scenario. Include an explanation of why you chose that communication strategy.
   [Insert response here.]
4. Describe the potential challenges of communication in the scenario.
   [Insert response here.]
5. Describe the benefits and challenges of using restorative practices to navigate the conflict in the scenario.
   [Insert response here.]

Sources
Budhwani, H., & De, P. (2019). Perceived stigma in health care settings and the physical and mental health of people of color in the United States. Health Equity, 3(1), 73–80. https://doi.org/10.1089/heq.2018.0079

Killen, M. (2018). The origins of morality: Social equality, fairness, and justice. Philosophical Psychology, 31(5), 767-803. https://doi.org/10.1080/09515089.2018.1486612