Cultural contexts11/16/2023 Respecting global wisdom: Enhancing the cultural relevance of occupational therapy’s theoretical base. As well as considering our unconscious bias as individuals, we need to watch out for cultural bias in research and theory influencing our professional practice. Incorporating the wisdom of diverse global peoples will make us more “culturally relevant, safe and inclusive, rather than ethnocentric, imperialistic and potentially irrelevant.” (Whalley Hammell, K., (2015). Occupational Therapy models pre-dominantly reflect the cultural perspectives of able-bodied white, middle class, urban, Northern American Anglophone academics with Judeo-Christian backgrounds. It’s the small things we do, and the things that we say.Ĭulture can be seen, experienced and sometimes overlooked,Ĭulture provides something to share, and a chance to learn.Ĭulture implies togetherness, core memories forever stored. It’s a way to show our past and all that’s been taught. Is it alcohol, late nights, no sleep and uncertainty?Īcting on past shadows, unsure of what’s in store.Ĭulture is a thought, a religious standpoint of self, a sense ofĬulture is the sharing of knowledge, a river of thoughts. Is it racism, sexism, and others I dare not speak? Is it standing in queues, or pushing your way through? We have representation from a diverse range of cultural and ethnic backgrounds, and we learn a lot from hearing about some students’ experiences of growing up with a variety of cultural influences.īy way of response to these prompts, Kara Lee, Occupational Therapy Student composed a poem: This is always a stimulating session, and students often challenge our assumptions and surprise us when sharing their cultural heritage. Attitudes about family support / roles / responsibilities?.What are your beliefs about health and recovery?.Are there any cultural beliefs or practices you would want health professionals to understand and respect?.How does our culture influence our beliefs, attitudes and practices? It is wrong to make assumptions about people's preferences based on generalisations, but at the same time it is good to be aware of cultural factors that might influence their participation or your intervention.Įlizabeth Taylor, Professional Lead/Head of Section for Occupational Therapy within the Centre for Allied Health explores cultural contexts by inviting students to present to each other in small groups to hear about each other's cultures. How does our culture influence our practice?
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