Social and Cultural Diversity Report
Introduction
Socio-cultural diversity encompasses the cultural aspects that influence a person’s interactions with others of different backgrounds (Sue et al., 2019). Worldwide, the highest rates of cultural diversities are found in the U.S., including African/Black Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, and White Americans. The various aspects of diversity include race, ethnicity, gender, cultural background, nationality, disability, class, age, language, geographic location, and more. In a diverse-culture environment, issues of cultural bias, stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination are common as some cultures perceive themselves to be superior to others. This requires a professional counselor to understand and show awareness of socio-cultural diversity while treating diverse clients to avoid bias, prejudice, and discrimination (Morris, 2014). The paper seeks to identify the personal biases that might impact a counselor’s treatment approach. Also, the paper will demonstrate an understanding of the racism/discrimination concept in the context of therapy. Finally, the paper will review and explore the ACA Code of Ethics that guides the conduct of a professional counselor.
Cultural Diversity – A Definition
Cultural diversity refers to the existence of various ethnic and cultural groups within the society (Chu et al., 2016). In counseling, professional counselors interact with diverse cultural clients in terms of age, ethnicity, race, religion, social class, and gender orientation. Diverse clients hold diverse values, beliefs, perceptions, norms, and thought patterns. Cultural sensitivity is mandatory for a counselor when interacting with diverse clients.
Part 1: Personal History
- Personal cultural bias identification
Cultural bias negatively impacts counseling approach. Counselors operate in culturally diverse environments where personal bias might greatly impact their counseling approach (Nittle, 2010). As a mental health counselor, one interacts with diverse patients in terms of age, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, and more. Personally, I tend to have cultural bias toward different groups of clients. For example, negative attitude against racial groups who consider themselves superior to others, ignorance of patient’s racial expression and background during counseling, language barrier with certain groups, race and sex taboo, and the Negro’s reservation towards self-disclosure. Also, I discriminate against people who hold negative stereotypes against black patients, especially whites. Regardless of whether White, Black, Christian, or Muslim, every patient should be treated fairly and with dignity.
- Personal History Documenting Discrimination
Discrimination against the Black race is common in the United States. While I may not have experienced discrimination, I have witnessed the White supremacists undermine, discredit, and abuse the Black people using negative and ill-guided stereotypes. In the counseling environment, White patients consider themselves superior and worthy of being prioritized by counselors in the course of treatment. Some White counselors discriminate against the Black patients and attend to their fellow Whites first, giving the Black patients the last priority. In the context of African American’s cultural background, this discrimination is disheartening and adversely affects their feelings, emotions, and mental health while attending therapy sessions (Liao, Hong, & Rounds, 2016). No matter one’s race, counselors have the mandate to treat them fairly, equally, and with dignity. Treating Black patients unjustly promotes racism and is unprofessional of a counselor.
- Memories of contact and cultural differences
As a culturally diverse individual, I have always interacted with people whose cultural beliefs, behaviors, norms, and thought patterns differ from those of our culture. For example, while in school, I have interacted with people of diverse races, ages, gender, and nationality. White students consider themselves more upright and deserving to grow professionally and undermine the Black students. In counseling practice, patients of different races hold different beliefs, perceptions, and assumptions against other races (Mojaverian, Hashimoto, & Kim, 2012). In job interviews, I have come into contact with employers who discriminate against others on the grounds of race, disability, or gender. An instance that remains memorable is seeing disabled job seekers miss on the job opportunity because they cannot move around the office. All these types of discrimination, bias, and prejudice against a certain group of people are unfair and unethical to a professional.
- Effects of life experiences to people of diverse cultures
Part 2: Concepts of Racism/Discrimination
Race discrimination refers to the unfair treatment on the grounds of race/color difference. Race discrimination is against the 2010’s Equality Act. In counseling and psychology, instances of race discrimination are common, with the Blacks being discriminated against by the whites using unjustified stereotypes (Parekh, 2001). This part demonstrates the concepts of racism and discrimination.
What does it mean to be a subtle racist?
As a contemporary form of racism, subtle racism poses major problems. According to (Liao, Hong, & Rounds, 2016), subtle racism creates a challenge to the perceivers for two reasons, i.e., subtle racism is difficult to discern, and the questionable actions can be easily justified by causes other than racism. Based on this argument, subtle racism refers to the ambiguous and complex form of facial discrimination. A subtle racist, thus, is an individual who holds adverse and implicit attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions against people of other races (Liao, Hong, & Rounds, 2016). Typically, subtle racist orchestrates means to harm, tarnish, and discredit other racial groups who he/she views their race as inferior. A good example of a subtle racist is a person who believes in white supremacists and considers other races, like African Americans, as inferior. In a school environment comprising both White and Black learners, the Black learners tend to be discriminated against, prejudiced, and stereotyped as inferior and undeserving compared to their White counterparts. This behavior is promoted by the school management, especially if the principal is a White. While White students are allowed freedom to play loud music, the Blacks tend to be denied this privilege. Based on this example, a subtle racist’s perception is impacted by the perceivers’ group status, beliefs, and perceptions. Group status involves the perceived power or prestige linked to one’s social group. Discriminating against people because of their race is always disheartening, inhuman, and depressing.
Why could there be significant differences in perceptions and values of members within the same ethnic group?
Part 3: ACA Code of Ethics
Conclusion
In the recent past, the topic of social and cultural diversity has attracted endless debates and research, especially by psychological scholars. Socio-cultural diversity involves diversity in terms of peoples’ social values and cultural beliefs. This paper has identified and explored the personal biases that might potentially affect a counselor’s treatment approach and planning. Also, the paper has demonstrated the concept of subtle racism and how it applies in the context of counseling. Finally, the paper has explored the ACA Code of Ethics related to cultural sensitivity and non-discrimination of patients seeking therapy.
References
Chu, J., Leino, A., Pflum, S., & Sue, S. (2016). A model for the theoretical basis of cultural competency to guide psychotherapy. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 47(1), 18.
Liao, H. Y., Hong, Y., & Rounds, J. (2016). Perception of Subtle Racism: The Role of Group Status and Legitimizing Ideologies. The Counseling Psychologist, 44(2), 237-266.
Mojaverian, T., Hashimoto, T., & Kim, H. S. (2012). Cultural Differences in Professional Help Seeking: A Comparison of Japan and the U.S. Frontiers in Psychology, 3, 615. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2012.00615
Morris, B. (2014). The impact of culture & ethnicity on the counseling process: perspectives of genetic counselors from minority ethnic groups. New York: American Counseling Association.
Nagayama, H. G., & Maramba, G. G. (2001). In search of cultural diversity: Recent literature in cross-cultural and ethnic minority psychology. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 7(1), 12.
Nittle, N. K. (2010). Examples of Subtle Racism and the Problems It Poses. New York: New York Times.
Parekh, B. (2001). Rethinking multiculturalism: Cultural diversity and political theory. Ethnicities, 1(1), 109-115.
Sue, D. W., Sue, D., Neville, H. A., & Smith, L. (2019). Counseling the culturally diverse: Theory and practice. Boston: John Wiley & Sons.
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