3.7 TIME TO REFLECT
.TIME TO REFLECT: THE RISKS OF STEREOTYPES AND HOW WE CAN REACT TO THEM
In our intercultural projects, such as voluntary workcamps, people coming from different cultural backgrounds share their time to volunteer together. Since they come from different parts of the world, they might have different ways to look at reality. Can you name some of these differences?.Leave a comment
Here is a list (be aware that more differences exist!)
- Different perception of time
- Different perception of space
- Different perception of the sacred/profane dimension
- Different perception of the body, modesty (and sexuality)
- Hygiene; clean/dirty
- Pure/impure
- Differences in terms of male/female relationships
- Difference in the structure of the family group; the family
- Work
- Education of children
- Relationship to rules
- Uses and customs
- Food/meal
- Communication
We will better explore this dimension in Module 4 when we will talk about intercultural communication. Even though differences between people exist and some studies show that the geographical area or culture from which they come determines certain tendencies in their perceptions, we must not fall into the trap of generalizations.
Stereotypes and prejudices constitute cognitive and affective filters and screens, which often prevent us from opening to the culture of the other. And if we do not pay attention, stereotypes, prejudices and discrimination might spread even in our voluntary projects.
