{"id":349,"date":"2022-03-28T14:31:38","date_gmt":"2022-03-28T18:31:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/peersupport\/?post_type=chapter&p=349"},"modified":"2022-03-28T14:31:39","modified_gmt":"2022-03-28T18:31:39","slug":"cultural-humility","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/peersupport\/chapter\/cultural-humility\/","title":{"raw":"Cultural Humility","rendered":"Cultural Humility"},"content":{"raw":"Like we discussed in previous sections of this training\u2013we are not wired to be objective. By nature all human beings think that their truth is the \u201cright\u201d truth. While feeling like we are \u201cright\u201d may have been helpful in ensuring the survival of the human race, it hasn\u2019t added to a more peaceful world.<\/strong>\r\n

What We Mean by \u201cHumility\u201d in Relation to Culture<\/h1>\r\nHumility is \u200bfreedom from pride and arrogance. When we are humble, we realize that our value isn\u2019t higher than anyone else\u2019s. Cultural humility<\/strong> means that we don\u2019t approach other cultures from a position of superiority. We recognize that there is much we don\u2019t know, and we choose to not make assumptions.\r\n\r\nIt is important to recognize that we have biases because of our own worldview and cultural lenses, and we mindfully choose to put those biases aside. We are intentional not to raise our sense of importance over another person\u2019s.\r\n\r\nWhen we practice cultural humility, we approach other cultures from a position of \u201cnot knowing;\u201d we don\u2019t elevate our importance over theirs, and we are willing and open to learn from another culture.\r\n\r\nWe must actively choose humility.<\/strong>\r\n\r\nThat means that we must engage in an internal wrestle that challenges the way our brain processes differences. It is easy to listen to others in a way that may \u201clook\u201d like we are humble, but underneath we still think ours is the better way. We must challenge performative humility. When we engage with people who have different cultural backgrounds than us, we must actively choose to listen from a place of not knowing, with genuine humility, and kind curiosity.\r\n\r\nCultural humility is a lifelong process of learning that takes mindfulness and self-reflection.\u00a0 It also includes mitigating power imbalances and institutional accountability <\/strong>(Miyagawa, 2020).\r\n\r\nThe Oxford dictionary defines humility as this: \u200bthe quality of not thinking that you are better than other people; the quality of being humble.<\/em>\r\n

The Practice of Cultural Humility<\/h2>\r\nThe Psych Hub video \u201cWhat is Cultural Humility?\u201d<\/em> on Youtube states that to be culturally aware means to be aware of power imbalances and biases, to respect others\u2019 values and beliefs and to continuously reflect on our own biases.\r\n\r\nThe video also shares the following ways we can practice this:\r\n
    \r\n \t
  • Recognize that no culture is better than another<\/strong><\/li>\r\n \t
  • Continuously engage in self-reflection (about our own biases and mistakes we\u2019ve made)<\/strong><\/li>\r\n \t
  • Practice vulnerability: Be honest when you are not sure of something<\/strong><\/li>\r\n \t
  • Learn about other cultures, but know that you can\u2019t possibly know everything<\/strong><\/li>\r\n \t
  • Find support systems and accountability<\/strong><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nA key component of cultural humility is that no one gets it right all the time. In fact, a huge part of cultural humility is openness to understanding that there is much we haven\u2019t learned yet. This creates opportunity for more learning, and potential for more equity and inclusion in our communities.\r\n

    What is Ethnocentrism?<\/h1>\r\nBeing ethnocentric means believing your own culture and behaviour is the only valid one.<\/strong>\r\n\r\nAn example of ethnocentrism often shows up in attitudes towards food. For example, in some cultures, it\u2019s normal to eat guinea pig or dog meat, but many other cultures would view this as disgusting, even though they wouldn\u2019t question their own diet that also includes eating animals, just different ones like cows or pigs.\r\n\r\nAnother example of ethnocentrism would be thinking that immigrants should adopt the culture and practices of the country\u00a0 in which they now live, abandoning the practices and beliefs of their country of origin. This implies that their country of origin\u2019s culture is inferior and that to succeed or be a \u2018proper\u2019 citizen in their new country, they must assimilate.\r\n\r\nThe early colonization of Canada was deeply rooted in ethnocentrism; this was shown in the belief of British colonizers that they were superior to Indigenous peoples. In 1907, R.B. Bennett (Canadian Prime Minister from 1930-35) told British Columbians that their province \u201cmust remain a white man's country.\u201d These attitudes can and do still surface today.\r\n

    Self-Reflection & Cultural Humility<\/h1>\r\nOur experiences shape the way we see the world. That means that our worldview is grounded in our beliefs and the culture(s) we identify with personally. Unless we very intentionally <\/strong>choose to do the work to understand a culture different from our own, we will not even begin to understand it. We need to take a humble position of \u2018not knowing\u2019 in order to begin to understand other cultures.\r\n\r\nStanding in a place of cultural humility when connecting with someone helps us create space that is safer, more respectful and freer from racism and discrimination. This takes practice.\r\n\r\n\u201cCultural humility is a process of self-reflection to understand personal and systemic biases and to develop and maintain respectful processes and relationships based on mutual trust. Cultural humility involves humbly acknowledging oneself as a learner when it comes to understanding another\u2019s experience.\u201d - First Nations Health Authority (FNHA), Creating a Climate for Change<\/em>","rendered":"

    Like we discussed in previous sections of this training\u2013we are not wired to be objective. By nature all human beings think that their truth is the \u201cright\u201d truth. While feeling like we are \u201cright\u201d may have been helpful in ensuring the survival of the human race, it hasn\u2019t added to a more peaceful world.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    What We Mean by \u201cHumility\u201d in Relation to Culture<\/h1>\n

    Humility is \u200bfreedom from pride and arrogance. When we are humble, we realize that our value isn\u2019t higher than anyone else\u2019s. Cultural humility<\/strong> means that we don\u2019t approach other cultures from a position of superiority. We recognize that there is much we don\u2019t know, and we choose to not make assumptions.<\/p>\n

    It is important to recognize that we have biases because of our own worldview and cultural lenses, and we mindfully choose to put those biases aside. We are intentional not to raise our sense of importance over another person\u2019s.<\/p>\n

    When we practice cultural humility, we approach other cultures from a position of \u201cnot knowing;\u201d we don\u2019t elevate our importance over theirs, and we are willing and open to learn from another culture.<\/p>\n

    We must actively choose humility.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    That means that we must engage in an internal wrestle that challenges the way our brain processes differences. It is easy to listen to others in a way that may \u201clook\u201d like we are humble, but underneath we still think ours is the better way. We must challenge performative humility. When we engage with people who have different cultural backgrounds than us, we must actively choose to listen from a place of not knowing, with genuine humility, and kind curiosity.<\/p>\n

    Cultural humility is a lifelong process of learning that takes mindfulness and self-reflection.\u00a0 It also includes mitigating power imbalances and institutional accountability <\/strong>(Miyagawa, 2020).<\/p>\n

    The Oxford dictionary defines humility as this: \u200bthe quality of not thinking that you are better than other people; the quality of being humble.<\/em><\/p>\n

    The Practice of Cultural Humility<\/h2>\n

    The Psych Hub video \u201cWhat is Cultural Humility?\u201d<\/em> on Youtube states that to be culturally aware means to be aware of power imbalances and biases, to respect others\u2019 values and beliefs and to continuously reflect on our own biases.<\/p>\n

    The video also shares the following ways we can practice this:<\/p>\n

      \n
    • Recognize that no culture is better than another<\/strong><\/li>\n
    • Continuously engage in self-reflection (about our own biases and mistakes we\u2019ve made)<\/strong><\/li>\n
    • Practice vulnerability: Be honest when you are not sure of something<\/strong><\/li>\n
    • Learn about other cultures, but know that you can\u2019t possibly know everything<\/strong><\/li>\n
    • Find support systems and accountability<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      A key component of cultural humility is that no one gets it right all the time. In fact, a huge part of cultural humility is openness to understanding that there is much we haven\u2019t learned yet. This creates opportunity for more learning, and potential for more equity and inclusion in our communities.<\/p>\n

      What is Ethnocentrism?<\/h1>\n

      Being ethnocentric means believing your own culture and behaviour is the only valid one.<\/strong><\/p>\n

      An example of ethnocentrism often shows up in attitudes towards food. For example, in some cultures, it\u2019s normal to eat guinea pig or dog meat, but many other cultures would view this as disgusting, even though they wouldn\u2019t question their own diet that also includes eating animals, just different ones like cows or pigs.<\/p>\n

      Another example of ethnocentrism would be thinking that immigrants should adopt the culture and practices of the country\u00a0 in which they now live, abandoning the practices and beliefs of their country of origin. This implies that their country of origin\u2019s culture is inferior and that to succeed or be a \u2018proper\u2019 citizen in their new country, they must assimilate.<\/p>\n

      The early colonization of Canada was deeply rooted in ethnocentrism; this was shown in the belief of British colonizers that they were superior to Indigenous peoples. In 1907, R.B. Bennett (Canadian Prime Minister from 1930-35) told British Columbians that their province \u201cmust remain a white man’s country.\u201d These attitudes can and do still surface today.<\/p>\n

      Self-Reflection & Cultural Humility<\/h1>\n

      Our experiences shape the way we see the world. That means that our worldview is grounded in our beliefs and the culture(s) we identify with personally. Unless we very intentionally <\/strong>choose to do the work to understand a culture different from our own, we will not even begin to understand it. We need to take a humble position of \u2018not knowing\u2019 in order to begin to understand other cultures.<\/p>\n

      Standing in a place of cultural humility when connecting with someone helps us create space that is safer, more respectful and freer from racism and discrimination. This takes practice.<\/p>\n

      \u201cCultural humility is a process of self-reflection to understand personal and systemic biases and to develop and maintain respectful processes and relationships based on mutual trust. Cultural humility involves humbly acknowledging oneself as a learner when it comes to understanding another\u2019s experience.\u201d – First Nations Health Authority (FNHA), Creating a Climate for Change<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":123,"menu_order":15,"template":"","meta":{"pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[],"contributor":[],"license":[],"class_list":["post-349","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry"],"part":92,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/peersupport\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/349","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/peersupport\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/peersupport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/peersupport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/123"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/peersupport\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/349\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":350,"href":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/peersupport\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/349\/revisions\/350"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/peersupport\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/92"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/peersupport\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/349\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/peersupport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=349"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/peersupport\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=349"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/peersupport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=349"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/peersupport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=349"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}