Cultural Awareness and Competence

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Population Selection

Name

Institution Affiliation

Course

Date

Describe briefly the group you have chosen.

One of the cultural groups that I am not part of and I am currently interacting with in my social work practice are the Indian Americans. Over time, the number of Indian-origin residents has significantly increased in the United States, making this group the second-largest immigrant group in the country (Badrinathan et al., 2021). Generally, Indian Americans have been said to be a combination of recent arrivals and long-term inhabitants. Even though most Indian Americans are immigrants, there have been an increasing number of those born and raised in the United States. Many immigrants into the United States from India are said to have come with them certain identities ingrained in their ancestral native land, whereas other individuals have avoided them in favor of the American identity.

Identify your current interaction with that group.

I have interacted with Indian Americans in different settings, which has significantly impacted my perception of this cultural group. Based on my interaction with Indian Americans, I have embraced the practice of treating all elders with visible respect. I have always ensured that I address Indian American elders with respect by addressing them and deferring to their views and opinions. In order to ensure that our interactions are effective, I am always patient when making decisions or negotiating with them. During the interactions, I have also tried to be conscious of how gender and relationships might affect interactions in the community. For instance, I have learned that some Indian Americans might find it inappropriate to involve married women in a conversation whenever their husband is not present.

Identify your current level of knowledge about the group

Due to the numerous interactions with Indian Americans, my level of knowledge about this cultural group has greatly increased, thus enabling me to work with them in social work practice effectively. First, I have learned that Indian Americans are the second-largest immigrant group in the United States and have gained a better place internationally. Other major things that I have learned about the Indian Americans include the group exhibiting increased rates of marriage in their society and religion serves a crucial function in the lives of Indian Americans, although those religious practices vary. Moreover, nearly half of all Hindu Indian Americans identify with a caste group, and the social communities of Indian Americans are intensely populated by other individuals of Indian origin.

Explain and describe how your interest in this group emerges from your current work

My interest in the Indian American group emerges from my current work since I have always had the desire to help different communities, which are usually made up of different groups of people. My desire is to unite people in this cultural group and help them work towards a shared goal so that the group can function effectively. I would like to work directly with members of this group by carrying out regular needs assessments and making referrals to various resources in the community.

Analyze differentiation in diversity for the selected population

The differentiation in diversity for Indian Americans is based on various factors. Generally, cultural variability exists in all cultural groups. The diversity of Indian Americans is seen in different areas, including their cultural identity, high context, and collectivism, besides the use of silence, space and time (Ellinghaus, 2022). Initially, the cultures of Indian Americans were considered to be oral cultures which define the cultural group’s modes of communication.

Why did you choose this population?

I chose Indian Americans because this cultural group is deemed to become one of the largest groups in the United States, and it would be effective to learn more about them to ensure they function well. As the population of this group increases, its diversity has also significantly grown, thus differentiating itself from other groups (Smith & Timke, 2020). Moreover, this cultural group embraces different cultures and traditions, which have been a major source of support for these people in contemporary society.

What implications do you foresee for your area and field of practice or for the population?

Over time, I foresee positive outcomes in my field and help the cultural group function well. I foresee achieving certain objectives, such as uniting people in this cultural group and encouraging them to work towards shared goals and objectives. I look forward to working with other individuals and groups to plan or administer various programs, conduct needs assessments, and fairly allocate resources to the cultural group.

References

Badrinathan, S., Kapur, D., Vaishnav, M., & Kay, J. (2021). Social realities of Indian Americans: Results from the 2020 Indian American attitudes survey. Washington, DC: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Ellinghaus, K. (2022). Blood will tell: Native Americans and assimilation policy. U of Nebraska Press.

Smith, P. C., & Timke, E. (2020). Native Americans in Popular and Commercial Culture: An Interview with Paul Chaat Smith from the National Museum of the American Indian. Advertising & Society Quarterly, 21(4).