What is it?
By Stacey Griffiths and Darrell Hinga
What language do you speak? What is your religion? What holidays do you celebrate? What is your racial identification? What is your ethnic identity? What is your culture? Culture is that which shapes us; it shapes our identity and influences our behavior. Culture is our “way of being,” more specifically, it refers to the shared language, beliefs, values, norms, behaviors, and material objects that are passed down from one generation to the next.
According to the Australian Human Rights Commission, Face the Facts: Cultural Diversity (2020) Australians identified with more than 270 ancestries representing 46% of the population of Australia with 1 in 2 having a parent born overseas.
The most recent Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) conducted in 2021, published that the number of ancestry responses within each standardised group as a proportion of the total population, was as follows:
57.2% European (including 46% North-West European and 11.2% Southern and Eastern European), 33.8% Oceanian, 17.4% Asian (including 6.5% Southern and Central Asian, 6.4% North-East Asian, and 4.5% South-East Asian), 3.2% North African and Middle Eastern, 1.4% Peoples of the Americas, and 1.3% Sub-Saharan African. At the 2021 census, the most nominated individual ancestries as a proportion of the total population were:
● English (33%)
● Australian (29.9%)
● Irish (9.5%)
● Scottish (8.6%)
● Chinese (5.5%)
● Italian (4.4%)
● German (4%)
● Indian (3.1%)
● Aboriginal (2.9%)
● Greek (1.7%)
● Filipino (1.6%)
● Dutch (1.5%)
● Vietnamese (1.3%)
● Lebanese (1%)
The words 'ethnicity' and 'ethnic' are associated with many different meanings. For the purposes of this interim report, 'ethnicity' refers to the shared identity of a group of people based on one or more distinguishing characteristics.
These characteristics include:
● A long-shared history, the memory of which is kept alive.
● A cultural tradition, including family and social customs, sometimes religiously based.
● A common geographic origin.
● A common language (but not necessarily limited to that group).
● A common literature (written or oral).
● A common religion.
● Being a minority (often with a sense of being oppressed).
● Being racially conspicuous.
Each race encompasses a multitude of different ethnic groups. An ethnic group refers to people who are closely related to each other through characteristics such as culture, language, and religion. Like Australia, there are many ethnic groups in the United States, due in large part to its immigrant population; each of these groups contributes to each country's cultural heritage. Australia and the US are one of the most diverse nations in terms of culture.
What does it mean to be “culturally diverse”? The term “culturally diverse” is often used interchangeably with the concept of “multiculturalism.” Multiculturalism is defined as: “…a system of shared beliefs and behaviors that recognizes and respects the presence of all diverse groups in an organisation or society, acknowledges and values their socio-cultural differences, and encourages and enables their continued contribution within an inclusive cultural context which empowers all within the organisation or society. Sociologist Dr. Caleb Rosado, who specialises in diversity and multiculturalism, described seven important actions involved in the definition of multiculturalism:
recognition of the abundant diversity of cultures;
respect for the differences;
acknowledging the validity of different cultural expressions and contributions;
valuing what other cultures offer;
encouraging the contribution of diverse groups;
empowering people to strengthen themselves and others to achieve their maximum potential by being critical of their own biases; and
celebrating rather than just tolerating the differences in order to bring about unity through diversity.
Why is cultural diversity a “good thing”?
Culture is the lens with which we evaluate everything around us; we evaluate what is proper or improper, normal or abnormal, through our culture. If we are immersed in a culture that is unlike our own we may experience culture shock and become disoriented when we come into contact with a fundamentally different culture. People naturally use their own culture as the standard to judge other cultures; however, passing judgment could reach a level where people begin to discriminate against others whose “ways of being” are different than their own—essentially, we tend to fear that which we do not understand. Cultural diversity is important because our country, workplaces, and schools increasingly consist of various cultural, racial, and ethnic groups. We can learn from one another, but first we must have a level of understanding about each other in order to facilitate collaboration and cooperation. Learning about other cultures helps us understand different perspectives within the world in which we live, and helps dispel negative stereotypes and personal biases about different groups. In addition, cultural diversity helps us recognise and respect “ways of being” that are not necessarily our own, so that as we interact with others we can build bridges to trust, respect, and understanding across cultures. Furthermore, this diversity makes any country a more interesting place to live, as people from diverse cultures contribute language skills, new ways of thinking, new knowledge, and different experiences. How can you support cultural diversity?
Increase your level of understanding about other cultures by interacting with people outside of your own culture—meaningful relationships may never develop simply due to a lack of understanding.
Avoid imposing values on others that may conflict or be inconsistent with cultures other than your own.
When interacting with others who may not be proficient in English, recognise that their limitations in English proficiency in no way reflects their level of intellectual functioning.
Recognise and understand that concepts within the helping profession, such as family, gender roles, spirituality, and emotional well-being, vary significantly among cultures and influence behavior.
Within the workplace, educational setting, and/or clinical setting, advocate for the use of materials that are representative of the various cultural groups within the local community and the society in general.
Intervene in an appropriate manner when you observe others engaging in behaviors that show cultural insensitivity, bias, or prejudice.
Be proactive in listening, accepting, and welcoming people and ideas that are different from your own.
Cultural diversity supports the idea that every person can make a unique and positive contribution to the larger society because of, rather than in spite of, their differences. Imagine a place where diversity is recognised and respected; various cultural ideas are acknowledged and valued; contributions from all groups are encouraged; people are empowered to achieve their full potential; and differences are celebrated.
“Diversity is the one true thing we have in common. Celebrate it every day.”
–Anonymous
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