Here's the next installment in the continuing series of ideas from The Wakanheza Project™. From The Wakanheza Project Agency and Community Organizing Guide:
Culture:
Many things make up a person's culture, including language, religion, food, art, music, literacy, landscape, and many other characteristics. These are outward manifestations of culture, which are comparable to the tip of an iceberg. We can only see about 10% of one's culture, or the tip of the iceberg, while 90% is below the surface.
It can be easy to look at someone and make judgments about them based on one's own concepts of culture...Making judgments that are based on assumptions and previously formed opinions can lead to cultural bias. this often results in misunderstanding, mistrust, fear of others or systems, feelings of powerlessness, stereotyping, and discomfort around others...
For people of all cultures, parenting can be difficult or challenging at times...Young people can find it difficult to be a teen in public just because of their age and perceived or real adult attitudes toward them. When we move past our own assumptions and fears we are in a much better position to authentically connect with other people.
(Leah's commentary): I find that this is a continual project, just like all the principles of The Wakanheza Project. It is so easy to lose track of how my own culture and background shapes my assumptions about the world and other people and to pass judgment without really understanding the full situation.
I have a friend who moved to Wisconsin from the south side of Boston. She grew up in a very direct and loud-speaking culture. When she first moved here and joined other stay-at-home mothers at playgroups and YMCA classes and baby storytime at the library, her manner turned a lot of people off. These women were mostly upper middle class Midwesterners who spoke quietly to each other and to their children, and most of them were 10 years older than her. It seemed like my friend was yelling a lot at her kids, and her brash manner with other adults was grating to folks who weren't used to it.
It turns out she is a tremendously caring and compassionate person who loves her children and is always striving to figure out what is best for them. Her culture (and to some extent, her personality) made it difficult to see that sometimes. Suspending judgment about this sort of thing is hard work, but usually it is worth it. Doing so made it possible for me to develop a mutually beneficial relationship with this person. She taught me so much about breastfeeding, pregnancy, and assertiveness. She learned a lot about parenting and about interacting in a Midwestern way from my husband and I.
Just one example...I'm sure there are more in your libraries. What are they?
Labels: culture, judgment, The Wakanheza Project
