Cultural Values Within Ethnic Groups
Examining what is consider “good” and “normal” within your organization can be challenging but essential to assessing how welcoming and inclusive it is for your teams. Norms, intergenerational knowledge, beliefs, arts, rules, and customs make culture, but whose culture was used for the blueprint of your organization? What happens to people whose cultural norms fall outside of these norms?
Assimilation, othering, code-switching, erasure of culture and internalized racial oppression and/or superiority.
Depending on the capacity of your organization’s leadership you might begin this assessment process by having a conversation about how you define diversity and what diversity is within your organization. Worksheet available.
You might also consider hosting a space to discuss some of the common values within ethnic groups from around the globe, some examples are provided below.
Faciltation tips!
Ensure that participation is consensual. All participation should be voluntary and participants particularly participants of color should have influence over the process toe ensure their wellbeing.
Do some research! What values and/or norms are on your website and other organizational materials? What is considered good or bad, moral or immoral and low or high priority?
Check out the worksheet for further reflection.
African
Communalism
Movement
Verve
Storytelling
Animism
Hospitality
Respect for Elders
Morality
High Power Distance
Indigenous/Native
Sharing
Cooperation
Noninterference
Harmony with nature
Present-time orientation
Deep respect for elders
Tolerance
Humility
Respect
Role Conformity
Asian
Collectivism
Conformity to norms
Emotional self-control
Loyalty
Humility
Family recognition through achievement
Filial piety
Socio-economic Prosperity
Deference to authority
High Power Distance
U.S./Mainstream
Time
Individualism
Competition
Informality
Change/Progress
Acheivement
Materialism
Directness
Low Power Distance
Hispanic/Latine
Collectivism
Spatiotemporal fluidity
Accountability
Harmony
Cooperation
Respect
Honor
High Power Distance
Want to learn more about Whiteness? Consider reading Dismantling Racism: A Workbook for Social Change Groups by Kenneth Jones and Tema Okun