with families and individuals in the community be understanding and sensitive to
many different cultural beliefs and practices.”^167 They suggest that anyone working
with families of different cultural heritages should strive to be culturally competent.
Although we discussed competency in detail at the conclusion of the last chapter,
we now revisit the topic as it applies to the family context.
Ballard and Taylor offer three general traits needed for effective communication
with diverse families.^168 Although some of these skills were noted at the conclusion
of Chapter 2, they bear repeating:
1.When working with intercultural families, one needs to develop an understanding
of self and others.
2.Interpersonal communication proficiency includes listening intently, being empa-
thetic, exercising decision-making and problem-solving skills, and displaying exper-
tise in conflict resolution.
3.A successful communicator interacting with another culture reflects concern,
respect, and sincerity.
We add some specific advice to Ballard and Taylor’s list:
4.As indicated earlier, cultures and families differ in the degree to which they pro-
mote individuality and uniqueness versus conformity and interdependence. When
interdependence is the rule,“absolute loyalty is expected to one’s immediate and
extended family/tribe.”^169 This strong emotional attachment that typically lasts the
person’s entire life might be involved in the decision-making process. Therefore,
when asking someone to make a choice, a person of a collective culture will nor-
mally ask the advice of family members and place their welfare above all other
institutions and individuals.
5.Learn the roles that each family has assigned to gender and the elderly. Those roles
will determine how members of each culture will respond to“outsiders.”It is not
uncommon for females in Asian, Latino, and Arab cultures to allow the male
members to make most of the decisions involving healthcare, even if it is a female
member of the culture who is visiting the doctor.
6.Learn all you can about age-appropriate behavior for each culture you will be deal-
ing with. What behaviors are expected from members of the family as they move
from infancy to childhood to adolescence to adulthood to old age?
7.Be aware of the problems created by the possible changes in family dynamics
caused by acculturation into a new culture. As Carteret points out,“It is impor-
tant to consider the enormous stresses families encounter in the process of accul-
turation due to sudden and radical shifts in family dynamics.”^170 Carteret refers
to those situations when a family migrates to a new country and attempts to cling
to the values of their original cultural while their children often adapt to the
values of the host culture. In many instances, parents and grandparents might
well experience feelings of humiliation and betrayal as they see these cultural
changes in the children.100 CHAPTER 3•The Deep Structure of Culture: Lessons from the Family
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