| tural Incompetence, Dr. Amaal V.E. Tokars states: | | | | workplace seminars rarely touches upon this type |
| "When you look around your place of | | | | of prejudice and its connection to individual racism. |
| employment, would you be surprised to see a | | | | Who is to blame for this exclusion? Fault could |
| wide variety of nationalities represented? Many | | | | partly be placed on the presenters, who may not |
| would not. Today, most companies try to | | | | be well-versed in this type of prejudice. It could |
| preserve some degree of cultural competence, | | | | also be that the culture of the particular |
| accepting and understanding the value of cultural | | | | workplace does not see this issue as important |
| diversity in the work environment. Employers | | | | enough to discuss as a factor contributing to |
| boasting policies of "equal opportunity" pervade | | | | individual prejudice. Whatever the reason, our adult |
| our society. However, there is some evidence | | | | education is lacking for it. If employers want to |
| showing these companies only support cultural | | | | teach their employees to be critically conscious of |
| diversity to a certain degree --just enough to | | | | the world around them, aspects of cultural |
| reduce their being liable for discrimination. Such | | | | competence must be introduced into these |
| employers are tolerant to a wide array of | | | | seminars. In fact, it must be introduced into the |
| cultures and let them co-exist with the cultural | | | | climate of the workplace as a whole that we |
| majority, but only to the bare minimum. There is | | | | should value our diversity, not suppress it. |
| a subtle fear underlying this aversion to anything | | | | Breaking Down Barriers How do we begin on the |
| cultural, a fear of offending or being offended, a | | | | road toward a culturally competent workplace? |
| fear of what is different, a fear of disruption of | | | | The steps taken could be small --as simple as |
| the norm. So, despite the employees of various | | | | inviting employees to bring in dishes that reflect |
| cultures being hired into companies claiming "equal | | | | their cultural heritage, encouraging them to |
| opportunity," in general, it seems to be desired | | | | describe the cultural significance of the dish. The |
| that the semblance of mainstream homogeneity | | | | key is to create space for meaningful discourse, |
| is preserved. Why should we feel afraid of slipping | | | | which will in turn create a more culturally open |
| out of the mainstream? Doesn't our melting-pot | | | | work environment. 1. Let your guard down: We |
| society require it? There are several factors | | | | must think of diversity as an asset, not a liability. |
| contributing to this form of cultural oppression in | | | | Being culturally competent means understanding |
| the workplace. The first is personal prejudice -- | | | | that every employee has an equally precious |
| the type of individual prejudice the cultural "other" | | | | cultural heritage, and that one or two groups do |
| experience in their daily lives. Every day people of | | | | not guide the reigns of diversity. 2. Take Action: |
| different cultures and backgrounds are | | | | Encourage employees to express themselves in a |
| stereotyped for how they look, speak, and dress. | | | | way that will familiarize others with their unique |
| The workplace is just one more arena for the | | | | cultural and spiritual backgrounds. In this way, they |
| culturally different to be categorized. This type of | | | | will learn the value of different cultures and how |
| prejudice is common enough, though, to be | | | | they enrich the work environment, and the |
| targeted as a problem in the work environment. | | | | country as a whole. 3. Know you purpose: In |
| Frequent seminars are given to educate on ways | | | | educating for cultural competence, we need to |
| to eliminate this type of prejudice. Let's get to the | | | | understand its importance as part of continuing |
| root of the problem, shall we? There exist certain | | | | our adult education. Remember that we live in a |
| systemic factors in our society that perpetuate | | | | country where diversity is ever present, and we |
| something called structural racism. (Think of 'white | | | | cannot truly understand ourselves as Americans |
| privilege' for a moment.) This unintentional form of | | | | without understanding the value of the country's |
| racism helps inequality seem the norm. | | | | diverse population. The workplace is a great place |
| Unrecognized, this problem continues on | | | | to start. |
| unchecked. Sadly, the discourse on diversity in | | | | |