The theory of the “melting pot” was introduced in the early 20th century to suggest a melding of cultures and ethnicities through assimilation.  According to the “melting pot” theory, eventually one culture would be indistinguishable from another.

Many people feel that a more relevant metaphor for the 21^st century is that of a tapestry or mosaic, suggesting that a cultural group can maintain its unique characteristics while still being part of the overall society.  In a tapestry, each color is distinct and adds to the overall beauty and complexity of the work of art; if even one thread is pulled out, the whole tapestry can unravel.

It is important to explore the role of culture in your own life, and to examine how your values, assumptions, and biases may influence your cross-cultural encounters.  There are many good reasons to engage in the process of self-awareness:

▶  Awareness of self is the first step to understanding others.

▶  Self-awareness helps you explore the impact of your own cultural background on your personal values, beliefs, and choices.

▶  An honest assessment can help you recognize biases – the first step to overcoming them.

▶ The process of self-awareness helps you identify which aspects of your culture have given you support, helped you solve problems, and contributed to your sense of identity.

▶ Self-awareness will ultimately help you work with your clients to draw upon their cultural heritage in the same way – as a source of strength.

It is important to take time to think about how certain aspects of your cultural background may have shaped your views, and to think about how those views could contribute to (or interfere with) your effectiveness as a helper.  The following questions are intended as a guide for you to use in examining your cultural background and life experiences.  Try to answer each question honestly and with an open mind.  Consider them in the context of your present life as well as your experience growing up as a child.

▶ What is your cultural heritage?  What was the culture of your parents and grandparents?

▶ In what community did you grow up?  What was the racial and ethnic composition of that community?

▶ With which cultural group or groups do you identify?  [In addition to thinking of culture in terms of race, nationality, and ethnicity, think about other groups you belong to that can be said to have a culture of their own – for example: “baby boomers,” urban pioneers, quilters, Rotarians, runners, Civil War re-enactors, etc.]

▶  Looking back on your childhood, which of your family’s values, beliefs, attitudes, customs, traditions, foods, etc., can be attributed to your ancestral/cultural heritage?  Are there any rites of passage that you experienced that were culturally-based?

▶ Growing up, what messages were given to you about people from your cultural group?  (For example, were you told – implicitly or explicitly – that people from your group believe in charitable giving?  Have problems with alcohol?  Value education?  Support liberal/conservative causes?  Are discriminated against by the police?)

▶ Growing up, what messages were given to you about establishing relationships with people from cultural groups different from your own?

▶  What was the structure of the family you grew up in?  Who was considered to be a member of your family?  Were there people who were not related by blood but who were regarded as family (such as godparents, or fictive kin)?

▶ In your household, were there roles and privileges that were determined by gender and/or age? What were men expected to do?  What were women expected to do?  What about elders?  What about children?

▶  What forms of communication were common in your family experience?  Did people use jokes, teasing, sarcasm, story-telling?  How loud did people talk?  Was arguing tolerated?  Could children disagree with adults?  Was it okay to interrupt?

▶ When did you first become aware of cultural differences between yourself and others?

▶  Did you ever experience a time when you felt judged, stereotyped, or discriminated against on the basis of your race or ethnicity?

▶ Was there ever a time when you felt particularly connected to your cultural heritage?

▶ Was there ever a time when you felt uncomfortable or embarrassed about your cultural heritage?