Cultural Gestures: Importance of understanding gestures from different cultures such as bowing, curtsying, and saying Namaste, which highlight humility.
Humility in American Culture: Challenges of adopting humility within American culture.
Personal Experience with Cultural Humility
High School Language Experience: Studied Chinese in high school in Indiana, leading to a cultural immersion trip to Chinatown in Chicago.
Cultural Encounter: Unique experience as a black person speaking Mandarin, highlighting the significance of cultural exchange.
Concept of Cultural Humility
Origin and Purpose: Developed by Drs. Melanie Tervalon and Jan Murray Garcia in 1998 to extend beyond cultural competency.
Focus: On understanding one's own cultural identity and valuing others' cultures.
Difference Between Cultural Competency and Humility
Cultural Competency: Finite Learning
Knowledge-based, learned skill set.
Example: Taking a course on Mexican-American culture.
Cultural Humility: Infinite Learning
Emphasizes lifelong learning and self-reflection.
Requires critical evaluation of personal beliefs and experiences.
Case Study: Personal Reflection
Gender Norms: A personal anecdote about making assumptions based on gender norms.
Teachability: Importance of self-evaluation and reflection.
Addressing Power Imbalances
Cultural Competency vs. Humility on Power:
Competency focuses on learned knowledge.
Humility challenges power imbalances, emphasizing shared experiences and partnerships.
Example: Pearl Formation Analogy: Collaboration between different entities (oyster and sand) to create beauty.
Advocacy and Partnerships
Cultural Humility: Encourages forming partnerships and advocating for others, not just self-advocacy.
Real-Life Examples: Instances of communal support during natural disasters and tragedies.
Call to Action
Lifelong Learning: Embrace continuous learning from diverse perspectives.
Challenge Power Imbalances: Work towards communal living and equity in society.
Advocacy: Partner with others to promote systemic changes and equity.
Conclusion
Namaste: Closing with an invitation to pursue cultural humility as a lifelong journey.