Cultural Differences, Racial Discrimination and Refugees

This paper explores the cultural differences, racial discrimination and issues of refugees. It discusses the difference between structural focus and individual pathology in addressing social issues, ways that the problem might lie within structural barriers rather than individual pathology, the influence of values and beliefs when handling different approaches, and the influence of sociological theories.

Running head: CULTURAL DIFFERENCES, RACIAL DISCRIMINATION AND REFUGEES
Cultural Differences, Racial Discrimination and Refugees
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Introduction
All of us have found ourselves in situations that are confronting at some point with people from
other backgrounds. Cultural differences often result in misunderstandings which can in turn
affect or associations with other communities and businesses. Culture is a substantial part of
people's lives. It usually starts at an individual level and moves across to entire society sharing
the same culture by influencing their views, values, their humor, worries, fears, and loyalties
(Dominelli, 2017). However, when people work together and build relationships, they get a
better chance to understand the perspectives and understanding of other cultures. Differences
among people crop from the feeling of individuals having a different nationality, culture, and
ethnicity, from various family backgrounds and individual experiences. Refugees camp in areas
where they can easily find help from the government, NGOs, and well-wishers in fear of harsh
conditions from their areas of origin (Bhugra & Bhui, 2018). This, therefore, brings people from
the diversified background and with different cultural beliefs. The differences influence our
beliefs, behavior, practices as well as our expectations from one another. In some way, cultural
differences are essential for identity as they give us a sense of belonging. According to Valtonen
(2016), a person's culture is of great essence to them since it has been part of them upon birth.
This paper aims at determining the cultural differences and issues of racism and refugees. To
achieve this, I will first explore the differences between structural focus and individual in
addressing social issues. How people pathologies and blame others for their situations, the way
in which the case might lie within our structural barriers and how our values and beliefs affect us
in grappling the differing views.

CULTURAL DIFFERENCES, RACIAL DISCRIMINATION AND REFUGEES 3
Difference between a Structural focus and individual one (pathology) in addressing social
issues in practice
The manner in which cultural differences and racism issues in refugees is addresses matters from
the individual level to that of the people of that culture. The differences in refugees are arrived
by parties involved from both structural focus and individual point of view (Ngai, Tao & Moon,
2015). In the structural focus, people emphasize that specific culture is better and superior to
those of others due to their well-known backgrounds before becoming employees. This,
therefore, gives them an opportunity to exemplify their cultural differences and practice racism
towards other minor refugee groups (Bartlett, Mendenhall & Ghaffar-Kucher, 2017). However,
this is kept in control by leaders of a given culture. The leadership seeks to associate well with
other people in the society.
On the other hand, individuals blame those from cultures in addressing social issues in practice.
Individuals believe that they are supposed to control the use of services within the refugee sites.
This raises concerns as disagreements arise because people from particular ethnicity despise
others due to their race. This way of reasoning is based on cultural histories that perceive one
ethnic group to be better than others extending it to refugee sites.
Pathologising and blaming individuals for their situations
In most cases, theorists come up with their theories from specific groups. From this perspective,
we might find it hard to understand the cultural differences between refugees by blaming them
for their situations. Some ethnic groups are known to have differences that result in fights. It is
hard for this people to settle and work for themselves in fear of wars aimed at flashing them out
of their lands to leave their farms. Other ethnic groups, for instance, those from Saudi Arabia and

CULTURAL DIFFERENCES, RACIAL DISCRIMINATION AND REFUGEES 4
other Arab nations have settled in areas with oil resources (Vaiman & Brewster, 2015). This
makes them prone to fights that as groups seek to control the oil fields. In this case, we might
blame individuals for being liable for their issues as they fight amongst themselves. Blacks are
also blamed for being poor while their countries are well endowed with resources. However, we
should not blame people for their situations because they all hope for the best but lack the power,
know-how, technology and other resources to redeem themselves from their problems.
Ways that the problem might lie within structural barriers rather than individual
pathology
Problems arising from cultural differences and issues of racism among refugees might be built on
structural obstacles rather than own pathology in that, people differ due to economies. The
differences might be built of theories that are formulated concerning different ethnicities. The
problems might be as a result of political and social factors where one group of refugees want to
be control of all resources within the refugee site (Jeanes, O’Connor & Alfrey, 2015). Also, the
issue might be controlled by people from different political sides thus each group seeking to
impress its side.
The Influence of Values and Beliefs When Handling Different Approaches
The values and beliefs of different communities are critical determinants in the process of
addressing the cultural differences and issues of racism and refugees. In most cases, refugees
face a lot of challenges before they are fully accepted in their new locality. The problems are
based on the racial perceptions and norms concerning people of different backgrounds (Eatwell,
2016). Many communities particularly the underdeveloped especially Africans they are so stuck
to their values and ideas, and they are not ready to accept change (Forrest, Lean & Dunn, 2016).

CULTURAL DIFFERENCES, RACIAL DISCRIMINATION AND REFUGEES 5
Despite such communities hosting a significant number of refugees, they have not yet allowed
diversity a factor which has contributed majorly to mass suffering amongst the refugees. In most
cases, the refugees are isolated in their camps receiving aids from world donors as the local
communities watch helplessly.
The refugees also have communal beliefs and values which they should observe. However, they
are not committed to the ideas and values, and most of them are ready to embrace diversity.
Although many people have argued that the situation has forced refugees to accept diversity but
it doesn’t seem to be the case, this is because in various parts refugees have been witnessed to
assimilated completely (Hruschka & Henrich, 2015). Values and beliefs of communities are
critical determinants in addressing the well-being of refugees. All societies have values and
beliefs which they are obliged to observe, but they should not significantly control their entire
lives such as socialization (Saucier et al., 2015).
The Influence of Sociological Theories
There are various developed sociological theories which provide know-how of societies,
relationships, and social behavior. Some of the approaches include symbolic interaction theory,
conflict theory, functional theory, critical theory, social learning theory, structural theory and
social exchange theory amongst others (Forrest, Lean & Dunn, 2016). I think the major difficulty
facing refugees in their camps is associated with lack of diversity incorporation amongst local
communities (Delgado & Stefancic, 2017). The developed countries have reached a significant
milestone in embracing diversities. The theories are effective in helping people gather a more
profound and richer understanding of the sociology’s past, present, and future.

CULTURAL DIFFERENCES, RACIAL DISCRIMINATION AND REFUGEES 6
I have witnessed sociological theories contribute majorly towards addressing the cultural
differences and issues of racism and refugees. Previously, several communities were stuck to
their communal beliefs and values, therefore, ignoring diversity (Leonardo & Grubb, 2018). The
knowledge of the social theories has significantly facilitated improvement of the welfare of the
refugees. I think the social theories are continuously influencing people to disregard cultural
differences and issues of racism in favor of diversity. Most of the sociological theories focus on
expounding the perceptions of people on characters of different gender and facilitate the process
of social interaction.
Understanding the Challenges
In the process of enhancing the lives, social welfare and well-being of refugees, the clients are
likely to experience several problems. Apart from financial challenges, the process is prone to
social issues, especially where the local society has not yet embraced diversity, or it is not
willing to. Different communities are associated with cultural differences described by values
and beliefs. In situations whereby the community is stubborn to the cultural practices and beliefs,
it becomes difficult to accept the refugees. The refugees, therefore, undergo social discrimination
which significantly lowers their social factor (Crenshaw, Delgado, Matsuda & Lawrence, 2018).
They are usually discriminated in various aspects, thus, forcing them to live miserable lives. The
primary role of the clients is to ensure the well-being of the refugees, and in the process, cultural
differences have to be eliminated. The clients are exposed to challenges especially when
handling a local community which is not ready to accept diversity. Such cities are stuck to their
values and beliefs and do not acknowledge the practices of other communities. Although the
clients apply social theories while trying to make changes to the societies, there some people

CULTURAL DIFFERENCES, RACIAL DISCRIMINATION AND REFUGEES 7
who are not ready and do not either cooperate or offer the necessary support. Enhancing the lives
of refugees, therefore, becomes a significant challenge.
Conclusion
Cultural differences and racial discrimination interfere with various issues especially those
linking people of diverse backgrounds. Refugees are an example of marginalized people who
require acceptance in the process of helping them settle. However, the process of addressing the
welfare of refugees has been experiencing various challenges especially amongst people who are
not ready to accept diversity. Although social theories have contributed majorly towards
embracing diversity, there is still a group of people who are stuck to their beliefs and values.
Eliminating cultural differences and racial discrimination is key to enhancing the lives of
refugees.

CULTURAL DIFFERENCES, RACIAL DISCRIMINATION AND REFUGEES 8
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