Multiculturalism Pluralism and Tolerance

1
Multiculturalism Pluralism and Tolerance
2
Our Multicultural Society

• http//www.mapleleafsikh.com/2010/03/fraser-health
  -authority-shaves-another.html
• http//www.capebretonpost.com/index.cfm?sid277948
  sc595

3
Multicultural Multiculturalism

• Multicultural A term of description applied to
  societies composed of diverse cultural
  religious groups
• Cross-cultural, intercultural A term of
  description for situations involving multiple
  cultures
• Multiculturalism A political philosophy or
  specific political policy or approach aimed at
  addressing problems raised in multicultural
  states (usually by supporting and/or promoting
  pluralism, tolerance, and integration, eg. In
  Canada we have The Multiculturalism Act (1987)

4
Pluralism

• Pluralism The philosophical belief that it is
  good for societies to be diverse in the ethical,
  religious and metaphysical views held by people
  in those societies
• A pluralistic society is a society in which
  members of minority groups are able, or even
  encouraged, to maintain independent traditions
• Opposite of pluralism is a belief that ones
  society ought to aim for cultural unity through
  the assimilation of minority cultures

5
Assimilation and Integration

• Assimilation Any process that attempts to
  eliminate cultural differences (eg. The banning
  of the potlatch ceremony of West Coast First
  Nations, residential schools and the rules
  against native language use, etc.)
• Integration Any process that attempts to
  facilitate effective cooperation and interaction
  between different cultural groups

6
Tolerance

• Tolerance An ethical/political attitude that has
  been considered a virtue in many societies that
  involves the expression of a willingness to
  accommodate, within some defined limits,
  differences in cultural, ethical or religious
  practice
• Such accommodation requires a willingness to
  learn about and maintain awareness of different
  cultures (aka Multi-cultural awareness, cultural
  sensitivity, cosmopolitanism)
• The practice of this virtue is encouraged by
  certain rights enshrined in the Canadian Charter
  of Rights (freedom of conscience, religion,
  association, expression and non-discrimination)

7
What is Culture?

• Way of life (food, clothing, what you do, how one
  worships)
• Way of viewing things (what one believes in,
  values, stories about the meaning and purpose of
  life death and suffering)
• Way of communicating (language, physical contact,
  stories, turns of phrase, body language)

8
The Canada Health Act (1984)

• Clearly states that all Canadians have a right to
  equitable, accessible, comprehensive and
  culturally and racially sensitive and appropriate
  health care

9
Culturally-Sensitive Care

• Refers to health care that is customized to fit
  with the clients cultural values, beliefs
  traditions (RNA of NS)
• International Council of Nurses has declared that
  culturally congruent health care is a basic
  human right, not a privilege (ICN, Code for
  Nurses, 1973)

10
Jehovahs Witnesses

• A protestant group
• Believe that certain scriptural references
  indicate that blood is a sacred element
• Therefore, prohibit blood transfusions

11
Attitudes Towards Privacy and Family involvement

• Many Muslims pray five times daily at set times,
  so in Islamic countries prayers take place in
  public and in some countries little notice is
  given to those praying
• A Muslim in hospital in Canada reported that
  nursing staff would stay away from his room
  completely during his prayers, which made him
  feel like they were afraid of him
• Nursing staff reported that they were actually
  just trying to guard his privacy

12
Traditional healing practices

• Members of First Nations participate in spiritual
  ceremonies such as the sweat ceremony, smudging,
  meditation and the talking circle
• A First Nations person reported that, while being
  discharged from hospital, she mentioned her
  intention of participating in such a ceremony and
  was warned that she should perhaps focus on
  resting instead
• The patient was aware of this and had taken it
  into account
• She wished that the staff person had inquired
  about the details of her plan before passing a
  judgment on it

13
Ways of Communicating

• In many protestant churches spiritual leaders are
  called ministers or pastors
• A protestant patient under palliative care in a
  Canadian hospital reported that staff often
  referred to his spiritual advisor as a priest,
  which made him feel odd and unwelcome
• Staff worked out a solution of referring to
  religious advisors or clergy

14
Any Limits To Tolerance?

• Is culturally sensitive care really as simple as
  is indicated by a comment of one nurse in
  reference to Culturally sensitive care We have
  to consider their (the patients) preferences and
  carry it out?
• RNA of NS Nurses need to examine the existing
  differences between nurses and the clients
  expectations to understand how differences can be
  reconciled (p. 14)the are ethical and legal
  limits to sensitivity and tolerance (will be
  discussed in next class)
• Cultural Sensitivity is a two-way streetnurses
  have their own cultures too