How To Become More Culturally Aware And Informed
As the world becomes increasingly connected, you may find that you’re interacting more often with people from other cultures—including those that may be very different from your own. While this can seem intimidating, understanding cultural norms and differences may make these interactions easier. So what exactly does it mean to be culturally aware, and how can you learn to be curious, respectful, and open-minded toward people from different backgrounds? Let’s explore the answers to these questions below.
What is cultural awareness?
Because it may mean different things to different people, cultural awareness can sometimes seem like a murky concept. Understanding what it is—and what it is not—can be an important first step toward developing a healthy sense of it.
Georgetown University’s National Center for Cultural Competence defines cultural awareness as being “observant and conscious of similarities and differences among and between cultural groups.” In other words, it’s about recognizing the differences between yourself and people from other cultures and understanding how those differences can shape people’s lives. This may mean:
- Interacting with people from different cultural backgrounds
- Learning to be respectful toward people who are different from you
- Understanding how cultural norms affect people’s perspectives
- Being aware of the biases you may have from your own culture
- Paying attention to how you react to people from different cultures and thinking about why you might be reacting that way
Cultural awareness does not mean:
- Stereotyping people based on their background
- Using cultural differences as a reason to hurt or exclude others
- Assuming that all people from a certain culture are the same, or that your own cultural values represent everyone from your culture
- Using traditions and practices from another culture without respecting or understanding their significance
Why is it important to practice cultural awareness?
There are several reasons why cultural sensitivity matters, starting with our increasingly connected world. As more people travel and use the internet, being able to learn from and respect other cultures may help you better understand the people you encounter. Cultural awareness may also help you to:
- Avoid misunderstandings when you interact with someone from a different culture
- Interpret body language and nonverbal cues, which may improve your communication
- Develop empathy, curiosity, and adaptability, which can be valuable both in the workplace and in daily life
- Become aware of your own biases toward others
- Find solutions to conflicts that may be due to cultural differences
On the other hand, a lack of cultural awareness may also cause challenges for everyone involved. Examples include:
- Discrimination against different nationalities, religious groups, or ethnic groups
- Risk of conflict between groups or individuals
- Inner conflict about one’s own background and cultural identity
- Trouble adapting to diversity
- Limited opportunities to grow and learn, which may limit life satisfaction
In some cases, a lack of cultural awareness can even lead to social isolation. This may increase the risk of mental illnesses like depression and anxiety as well as stress-related health problems like high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease.
Tips for becoming more culturally competent
Potentially avoiding the above problems is a strong argument for increasing your cultural awareness, no matter what background you may come from. Doing so can take time and patience, but the rewards for both you and those around you can be significant. The following tips may help you get started.
Travel
If possible, traveling to other countries can be a way to gain firsthand cultural experience. By immersing yourself in cultures that are different from yours, you may be able to better appreciate their nuances, norms, and ways of life. If visiting another country isn’t an option for you, you might also take advantage of diverse areas in your own city or region, making a specific effort to try other cuisines and meet people who are from other places.
Self-educate
International travel may not be realistic for everyone, but there are also plenty of ways to learn about other cultures from your own home. Books, podcasts, documentaries, and essays can all help you expand your perspective. Even movies and TV shows from different cultures can provide valuable insights. Remember to look for sources that come directly from people of other backgrounds.
Consider learning a language
Learning another language may improve your brain health and be an asset in your career. It may also give you insight into expressions, humor, and verbal cues from others that you might not be able to understand otherwise. Even if you can’t commit to a language class, you might consider trying out an app or online program to start learning.
Build awareness of your reactions
Cultural awareness is also about understanding how your own background may be affecting the ways you think and react. Practicing mindfulness can be a useful way to start noticing your patterns of thoughts and emotions, which may help you become aware of your reactions in multicultural situations. (As a bonus, practicing mindfulness may also improve memory, lower stress, and boost focus.)
Get feedback
As you work toward building cultural awareness, it can be important to seek feedback from people of other cultures when possible and appropriate. Ask questions if you’re not sure about something and aim to be curious and respectful without making assumptions. If someone offers you constructive criticism, it can help to listen actively to their perspective without taking offense.
Seek help if you need it
Navigating cultural differences can be challenging. The risk of misunderstandings can be stressful, and feeling excluded based on your culture may contribute to mental illnesses like depression and anxiety. If you’re facing any challenges like these, you might benefit from meeting with a therapist. Therapy may help you learn to manage any symptoms of a mental illness and navigate interpersonal interactions with empathy and understanding.
That said, stress, depression, and anxiety can cause symptoms like fatigue, panic attacks, and even pain. These may make it difficult to regularly commute to a therapist’s office. With online therapy, you can talk to a licensed therapist virtually from the comfort of your own home instead, which may be more convenient or comfortable.
Research suggests that internet-based therapy can be an effective treatment for stress-related conditions, which may be common for people experiencing cultural conflicts. A 2022 study in particular indicates that online therapy may effectively reduce symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression.
Takeaway
Cultural awareness is the ability to recognize, understand, and accept differences between yourself and people from other backgrounds and notice how your own background might be shaping your views. Becoming more culturally aware may make daily interactions easier and help you avoid misunderstandings. It can be an ongoing process, but educating yourself, being mindful of your reactions, and seeking feedback when you can may help you along the way.
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