09/14/2021
Cultural Diversity in Health and Illness. Rachel E. Spector
During this last year I was caught off guard by the divisiveness in our culture. So many variables that played into division that filled our new way of life. A life full of politics, diversity, Covid, and the Cancel Culture movement.
I listened to heart broken mothers who felt like their children were angry with them for not understanding their points of views, and visa versa. I listened to people of a political party call people of the opposing party names, and disrespect the opposition by disregarding people all together for their views. I myself have gotten caught up in the G-force of this last year.
As I am currently learning about diversity and how it affects the health care system, some things stand out to me. Fear! Internalization! Self preservation! And a lack of understanding regarding generational differences, and other cultures and their practices. Did I miss one? Surely…
Stopping for a moment to understand the audience in your presence. Maybe don’t hear what others or saying or see what they are doing by how it makes you feel. Internalization, and self-preservation. But instead, ask yourself where this person is coming from.
The blessing of being a US citizen is that we are a diverse country. However, it’s human nature to stay within your own communities. We feel safe and accepted within our communities. Unfortunately this has caused cultural pockets around our nation. The lack of assimilation perpetuates these pockets. Making it harder to learn about eachother. I believe the biggest division in our society is FEAR. Fear of the unknown.