cultural competence
Navigating diverse backgrounds
Cultural competence is the ability to interact effectively with people from different cultural backgrounds—understanding their beliefs, customs, and communication styles well enough to work or communicate respectfully.
The term appears most often in healthcare, education, and social services: The hospital requires cultural competence training for all staff.
Critics note it can imply a checklist approach to culture rather than genuine understanding.
Coexistence of differing views
- ethnicityShared cultural heritage group
- heritageInherited cultural legacy
- traditionsLong-established customs passed down
- customsTraditional practices or import taxes
beliefs · values · biculturalism · multilingualism · cosmopolitanism · demographics · diaspora · indigenous
Between different cultures
- ethnocentrismBelief one's culture superior
- stereotypesOversimplified beliefs about groups
- biasUnfair inclination or prejudice
- prejudicePreformed unfavorable opinion
global mindset · social justice · self-reflection · implicit bias · unconscious bias · worldview · socialization
Exchanging ideas or information
- active listeningFocused, responsive attention to speech
- perspective-takingUnderstanding another's viewpoint
- adaptabilityAbility to adjust readily
- flexibilityAbility to adapt easily
code-switching · conflict resolution · mediation · rapport-building · interpersonal · collaboration · negotiation · facilitation
Innate personal worth
- honoringRecognizing with respect
- acknowledgmentConfirmation of receipt
- appreciationRecognition of worth
- valuingAssessing or esteeming worth
deference · etiquette · reciprocity · consent · sovereignty · sacred · taboo · customs
Impartial treatment or ownership value
- belongingState of fitting in
- representationDepiction or likeness
- accessibilityEase of approach
- participationAct of taking part
empowerment · allyship · advocacy · affirmation · recognition · safe space · voice · marginalization
pluralism
Coexistence of differing views
- ethnicityShared cultural heritage group
- heritageInherited cultural legacy
- traditionsLong-established customs passed down
customs · beliefs · values · biculturalism · multilingualism · cosmopolitanism · demographics · diaspora · indigenous · intersectionality
intercultural
Between different cultures
- ethnocentrismBelief one's culture superior
- stereotypesOversimplified beliefs about groups
- biasUnfair inclination or prejudice
prejudice · global mindset · social justice · self-reflection · implicit bias · unconscious bias · worldview · socialization
communication
Exchanging ideas or information
- active listeningFocused, responsive attention to speech
- perspective-takingUnderstanding another's viewpoint
- adaptabilityAbility to adjust readily
flexibility · code-switching · conflict resolution · mediation · rapport-building · interpersonal · collaboration · negotiation · facilitation · bridging
dignity
Innate personal worth
- honoringRecognizing with respect
- acknowledgmentConfirmation of receipt
- appreciationRecognition of worth
valuing · deference · etiquette · reciprocity · consent · sovereignty · sacred · taboo · customs · norms
equity
Impartial treatment or ownership value
- belongingState of fitting in
- representationDepiction or likeness
- accessibilityEase of approach
participation · empowerment · allyship · advocacy · affirmation · recognition · safe space · voice · marginalization · power dynamics
cultural competenceignorance
Absence of knowledge
provincialism · parochialism · insularity · cluelessness · naivety
cultural competencebigotry
Intolerance toward differing views
prejudice · racism · xenophobia · ethnocentrism · intolerance
culture, cultured, cultural, competence, cultures, multicultural, culturally, subculture, acculturation