| Getting in Touch with Your Heritage |
| When Socrates said "know theyself", he was probably talking about a search to discover the world of one's inner self. When dealing with other cultures, it is important to "know theyself". The only way that we can truly begin to appreciate the differences between ourselves and others, is to first have a good understanding of what makes us the people we are. Much of the misunderstanding between Americans and people from other cultures can be attributed to Americans who believe that everyone is like them or at least should be like them. These activities are designed to help you get in touch with your own culture. You may simply go over these questions in your mind, or you may wish to start a cultural journal in which you write the answers to these questions for future reference. In any event, HAVE FUN finding yourself, and you will find that you will have a new way of looking at the world. Cultural Self-analysis Examine your cultural heritage in terms of the following questions: 1. What is your national background, racial group, or membership in a diverse population or group? 2. What was your religious affiliation during your childhood? 3. What is your religious affiliation now? 4. What is your gender? 5. What is your age? 6. Based on your income and job, what is your current socioeconomic status? 7. In what geographic region were you reared? 8. In what geographic region do you currently reside? 9. Describe your affiliation with any particular subpopulation (i.e. a group that differs based on a feature or features that distinguish it from other groups) 10. Who was significant in teaching or transmitting to you your subgroup identity? What impact does your identification with that group have on your present life? In other words, what does it mean to you to be a member of this group? 11. Are there other groups that are like your group? Name them. In what way(s) is/are they similar and differnt? 12. What is the most satisfying thing about being a member of your subgroup? What is the least satisfying? 13. What is the attitude of your subgroup concerning ways to approach personal or emotional problems? How would members of your group attempt to solve such problems? Examination of Your Personal Culture 1. What is one thing you are proud of regarding your culture? 2. What is one thing that embarasses you about your culture? 3. What is a trait, practice, or tradition that you admire about a culture other than your own? 4. Describe a time when you were hurt by someone's prejudice in words or action? Describe the feelings that were involved. 5. Describe a time you hurt someone because of your prejudice in words or action? Describe the feelings involved. 6. What is a stereotype, prejudice, or act of discrimination you learned in your youth? 7. What is a sterotype, prejudice, or act of discrimination you changed as you grew older? Why did you change? 8. Describe an incident regarding race relations in your work or school setting and how you responded to it. 9. Thinking back on the events of question 8, what would you do differently (if anything) if it was to occur now? Why? 10. Describe a time you saw an act of prejudice and did something about it. 11. Describe a time you saw an act of prejudice and did nothing about it. 12. In thinking back on the events of questions 9 and 10, would you handle things differently now? Why? Identifying Cultural Differences Recall a specific incident when you felt very uncomfortable around a group of people who were different from you. 1. Describe three feeling experienced at that time. 2. Describe any gestures or activities that could have been used to help you feel more at ease. That is, what could have been done to make you feel more comfortable? How would you have responded? |
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