Understanding and Overcoming Cultural Barriers

This assignment delves into the importance of cultural competency in professional settings. It outlines strategies for building relationships with individuals from diverse backgrounds, including understanding their needs, attending cultural events, and sharing resources to promote trust. The document also discusses methods for overcoming social and cultural barriers through cross-cultural training, open-mindedness, and active engagement with different cultures.

Work with Diverse People

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
1. How culture defines a person.............................................................................................1
2. What is your culture...........................................................................................................1
3. Stereotypes of a particular group........................................................................................1
4.List your values, beliefs & customs....................................................................................1
5. Proud things in my culture.................................................................................................2
6. Things I don't like about my culture...................................................................................2
7. Australian culture...............................................................................................................2
8. Cultural issues in Australia.................................................................................................2
9. Techniques to develop professional bond with people of other culture.............................2
10. Methods to encourage & develop trust among divers people..........................................2
11. Strategies to overcome social & cultural barrier..............................................................3
12. Ways to improve cultural competence.............................................................................3
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................4

1. How culture defines a person
In our culture, a person is considered as a free and democratic individual. It is the culture
which defines a person's identity in terms of his/her ethnic group, nation, religion or society. It is
the culture which determines us as who we are in the society. It also helps us to better understand
our surroundings and the world.
2. What is your culture
My culture is to respect and adore everyone's culture as well as follow mine with same
pride and honour. I respect the cultural differences and try to understand differences which
govern them (Kohli and et.al., 2016). I believe that these cultural differences are what make the
world more beautiful and bring us closer by building a stronger bond as well as a better cultural
diversity which depicts that differences make us beautiful.
3. Stereotypes of a particular group
Stereotypes are the perceptions which are preconceived by certain people or group about
certain place, person or thing. For example, Vegans choose to go green by consuming no animal
food product for the consumption. It is their personal outlook. But many a times, Vegans try to
dominate over Non-Vegans and force their point of view about just eating plant products and
hate the practice of Non veg diet. Such practices bring a sense or feeling of hatred among each
other in the society and disturbs cultural harmony.
4. Listing values, beliefs and customs
For me, values are the priceless possessions which is required to be a good person. I
value relations, family & friends to a great extent (Kubiszyn and Borich, 2015).
My personal belief is that we all must live with harmony, peace and in brotherhood to
sustain a better life in world. We must resolve our differences peacefully and respect each other's
beliefs, values & customs.
Custom is a traditional practice to follow certain practices or beliefs that are imbibed into
a culture of a country. The customs are what defines us as a good person and a gentleman.
5. Proud things in my culture
There are many things in my culture that makes me proud of my culture. British accent is
considered as one of the finest accents in the world. Industrialisation was first started here. The

pioneers of literature like William Shakespeare, George Orwell and Yeats gave a significant
contribution to English language. Sir Charlie Chaplin and Rowan Atkinson are the known name
in world’s entertainment. Besides this, my culture provides the freedom of press.
6. Things I don't like about my culture
The sense of racial superiority and considering others as low grade people in some
individuals is the thing I don't like about my culture (Mizock and et.al., 2017).
7. Australian culture
The cultural background of Australia is quite similar from that of mine. As it was derived
by UK due to colonisation, Australia also follows constitutional monarchy along with
constitutional segments of other countries too. It has British lifestyle with some effect of coastal
culture.
8. Cultural issues in Australia
Alike UK, Australian culture also prevails the sense of racial and communal superiority
over other ethnic groups. On a fact, Australia is considered as one of the most racist countries in
the world for people of other cultural background.
9. Techniques to develop professional bond with people of other culture
 I will try to understand the requirements, skills and demands of a person of other cultural
background without making any presumptions about his culture.
 I will attend a cultural festival celebration or any event to gain better knowledge about
other’s cultural background (DuBois and Miley, 2013).
10. Methods to encourage and develop trust among diverse people
 I will give them a chance to express their cultural traits in the group or team to develop a
better understanding about their cultural background. It will also help me to build a
relationship of trust with them.
 Besides this, I will share my resources, information and plans with people of different
cultural backgrounds to make them feel accepted and develop a feeling of trust as well as
belonging in their minds.

11. Strategies to overcome social and cultural barrier
These are the few strategies which can be implemented to overcome social and cultural
barriers.
 Taking a cross cultural training to develop a better understanding about various cultures
and the way to behave in various cultural contexts
 Keeping an open mind to learn new things about various cultures
12. Ways to improve cultural competencies
 One can improve his/her cultural competence by knowing more and more about other
cultures.
 Meeting with people of diverse culture and telling them about my culture for better
communication and understanding (Smith and et.al., 2014).

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Kohli, H.K. and et.al., 2016. Universal-diverse orientation of business, education, and social
work students in a north-eastern comprehensive university. International Journal of
Management in Education. 10(2). pp.111-130.
Kubiszyn, T. and Borich, G., 2015. Educational testing and measurement. John Wiley & Sons
Incorporated. 47(6). pp. 78-80.
Mizock, L. and et.al., 2017. Coping with transphobia in employment: Strategies used by
transgender and gender-diverse people in the United States. International Journal of
Transgenderism. pp.1-13.
DuBois, B.L. and Miley, K.K., 2013. Social work: An empowering profession. 50(8). pp. 89-90.
Smith, E. and et.al., 2014. From blues to rainbows: The mental health and well-being of gender
diverse and transgender young people in Australia. 50(6). pp. 96-97.