Final Quiz

.docx

School

George Mason University *

*We aren’t endorsed by this school

Course

MISC

Subject

Philosophy

Date

May 6, 2024

Type

docx

Pages

2

Uploaded by akodi09 on coursehero.com

This course on Cultural Competence has resonated with me as an African female growing up in the Western world and working in corporate America. We are often told that our personal bias can infiltrate one’s thoughts and actions. While I have grown up mostly here in the U.S., my cultural perceptions have not steered too far off from our parents’ teachings; however, there is the occasional western influence that has also been adopted. Hailing from the Dinka tribe in South Sudan, young women rarely have a voice whether it is in school, workplace, or household. We are cultured to believe we are inferior in society. There is a constant struggle now as I have been exposed to the western world where everyone has a voice and a seat at the table. However, as a health professional I had to work on ways to address the inferiority complex, especially in a society where the intelligence of a black female is seen as a threat; one is left to work 2-3x as much to prove their worth and knowledge. Banaji et al. (2021) quoted, “For most White Americans, the association that pops into their minds will link a Black person with incompetence…Black people are widely perceived as inferior in these ways, which are baked into the social hierarchy, reflecting disrespectful patterns of interpersonal behavior” (p. 14). Thankfully, in my current workplace, leadership introduced cultural bias training and conduct them twice a year. In working to overcome my cultural bias, I fully participate in the training, as recommended by Shepherd et al. (2019) as a solution. Through the years, I have learned to put away my feelings of inferiority complex by demonstrating my knowledge and my work abilities; this has allowed me to move up the ladder by two grades within 3 years. Cultural bias can be addressed as long as one is aware of their personal biases. References: Banaji, M.R., Fiske, S.T. & Massey, D.S. (2021). Systemic racism: individuals and interactions, institutions, and society. Cognitive Research, 6 (82), 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41235-021-00349-3 . Shepherd, S. M., Willis-Esqueda, C., Newton, D., Sivasubramaniam, D., & Paradies, Y. (2019). The challenge of cultural competence in the workplace: perspectives of healthcare providers. BMC health services research, 19( 1), 135. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-019-3959-7 . Nair & Adetayo (2019) have stated that “By 2050, it is estimated that 50% of the US population will consist of minorities and unfortunately, today’s model of healthcare has been noted to have persistent racial and ethnic discrepancies” (p. 1). Being a black female in the health field, it is evident that most professionals are lacking cultural competence or choose to not demonstrate that knowledge. Cultural competence requires that a health professional is fluid in their approach and in working with people of varying backgrounds. Considered as a melting pot, the United States is home to diverse cultures. Therefore, it is imperative that one takes into account the social determinants of health that are defined by education, housing, and one’s health status. As data has shown minorities, especially blacks, are at a disadvantage when it comes to equitable healthcare; this has been heavily influenced by their social determinants of health (Nair & Adetayo, 2019). Integrating cultural competence into my work as a healthcare professional will not be challenging. Being an individual with a distinct cultural background and in a line of work that exposes me to people from all walks of life, I naturally recognize and respect varying cultures. First and foremost, is acknowledging the role social determinants of health play in healthcare. Secondly, is ensuring minorities are equally valued, and their health concerns are addressed accordingly. Thirdly, is to guarantee that my place of my employment offers cultural competence training
and enforces that it is practiced. Nair & Adetayo (2019) have stated that one way to overcoming cultural competence is through education. References: Nair, L., & Adetayo, O. A. (2019). Cultural Competence and Ethnic Diversity in Healthcare. Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open, 7 (5), 1-3. https://doi.org/10.1097/GOX.0000000000002219 .
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
  • Access to all documents
  • Unlimited textbook solutions
  • 24/7 expert homework help