Socio-Cultural awareness may arguably be one of the most important competencies listed as it highlights the importance of intersectionality and the fact that our lives aren’t made up of linear aspects but rather are a collection of a mix of different experiences and beliefs. I think especially when it comes to the workplace, in a society that so values productivity often intersecting identities are ignored or not brought up in the workplace because they can be considered as distracting or detrimental to the work environment. This, however, I think is impractical and a little cruel as in a way it forces employees to check their personal lives and lived experiences at the door. You’re expected to bring the good helpful qualities and simply forget about the ones that cause you anxiety or fear. This in and of itself feels unequal and discriminatory towards people of color and other individuals who share marginalized identities. These individuals often can’t be their full selves in the workplace. In order to change this norm, other employees, not just those with marginalized identities have to call for a reset in what a productive work environment looks like and accept that people can’t and shouldn’t be forced to divide themselves for the ease or comfort of others. On an individual employee level, one way that workers can self-check themselves is by continually checking their own biases and judgments to ensure they aren’t accidentally contributing to the problem. Speaking more generally, there also simply has to be a shift in perspective in terms of showing gratitude and appreciation for a mix and diversity in the workforce as it’s the diversity itself that allows for differences of opinions which in turn allows for innovation, ingenuity, and uniqueness needed to make a statement in the outside world. It’s important to go beyond cultivating mutual respect or tolerance of different backgrounds such as socio-economic class, gender, race, etc., and truly instill and encourage the individuals to share and take pride in their differences. Only once everyone is truly accepted just the way that they are, will they really be able to shine and reach their potential as the worry of being different is much more reduced or eliminated. I would also say that it’s worth mentioning that all of these implementations should be made to help ease those that are marginalized and not rules to enforce sharing cultural or more private aspects of themselves if they don’t feel comfortable. The whole idea is that these changes and reforms are supposed to benefit and provide individuals who otherwise might not have had the framework to freely express themselves the opportunity to do so, and by no means is it now a requirement to bring every aspect of yourself to work as that can really be seen as an invasion of privacy. In essence, there should be an appreciation for different experiences when voluntarily shared, otherwise, everyone should be treated with the same level of respect.
How have you developed or demonstrated this competency this semester? Questions to consider (you don’t need to answer them all!): Socio-cultural self-awareness Can you give an example of a time you faced an unfamiliar social or cultural situation? How did you navigate it? Can you give an example of how a social or cultural assumption you held affected your decision …
