Cultural Biases and Assumptions

As noted throughout the text book, we, as a society, still struggle with racism, ageism, sexism, and other types of discrimination and prejudice. Therefore, it is important that we, as a society, take steps learn how to APPRECIATE (not tolerate, understand, or accept) people with cultural differences from our own. It is my opinion that the first step in this process is self-awareness. In my opinion being self-aware provides people with insight into their actions, beliefs, standards, and biases. It is important that we know ourselves before we can begin to appreciate other cultures. This assignment is to help students enhance their understanding of their cultural biases and assumption by having them evaluate their own values, beliefs about themselves, beliefs about other people, and beliefs about the world in which they live.

Materials Needed:

1. Textbooks
2. Critical Thinking Skills
3. Memories and Experiences
4. An Awareness of Self

Procedure:

First and foremost, everyone has cultural biases and assumptions – no one is immune to them. The best way to think about your cultural biases and assumptions is to review some of your past experiences. Specifically, think about when someone really aggravated you or made you upset. What about that person incited these feelings of frustration or upset? Did you make any generalizations about them based on an arbitrary feature (i.e., weight, skin color, education level)? Here are some common biases or assumptions (I am not saying that I believe these – they are just common in society).

• Big people are lazy.
• Women are inferior (evidence by lack of pay).
• Gays and lesbians are evil and will go to hell because they go against God.
• Older people do not have the capability to understand modern technology.
• Adolescents don’t know what “true love” is because they are too young.
• African Americans are more hostile because they listen to rap music.
• People with a disability should not have a job.

Activity Essay:

Write a three page essay that describes at least three of your biases or assumptions. After identifying your biases and assumptions talk about how you think they developed? What factors influenced their development? Also talk about what you could do obtain a better understanding of the culture you have made generalizations towards. Note: if you do not feel comfortable talking about the biases and assumptions you have now, you can talk about some you had when you were a child or in high school.
Final Instructions:

• Paper must be in APA format – points will be taken off for formatting that is incongruent with APA.
• You will need a title page for the paper and it should also be in APA format.
• Your paper should be at least three complete pages – double space with congruent margins with APA format.
• Use Times New Roman in 12 point font.
• Points will also be taken off from grammatical and spelling errors.
• Turn in the paper as an email attachment in Word to my email address.