Multicultural Awareness Iceberg Theory
Multicultural Awareness
Iceberg Theory
You As A Culturally Diverse Entity
Source: Lee Gardenswartz and Anita Rowe, Managing diversity: A complete desk reference and planning guide, 1993
Who Are You?
You belong to multiple circles(e.g. North American, student,etc.)
Source: Lee Gardenswartz and Anita Rowe, Managing diversity: A complete desk reference and planning guide, 1993
What is Culture?
How would you define culture?
Definition of Culture
Culture is “the collective programming of the mind that distinguishes the members of one group or category of people from others.”
(p.4)
Source: Geert Hofstede & Gert Jan Hofstede, Cultures and organizations: Software of the mind, 2005
Human Nature
Culture
Personality
Universal
Specific togroup or category
Learned
Specific toindividual
Inherited andlearned
Source: Geert Hofstede & Gert Jan Hofstede, Cultures and organizations: Software of the mind, 2005
Inherited
Three Levels of Uniqueness in Mental Programming
NationalCulture
CorporateCulture
PersonalCulture
THREE CULTURES MODEL
Source: Gardenswartz, L. et.al, The global diversity desk reference, 2003
Iceberg Theory:Sources of Differences Between Countries and Groups
IDENTITYLanguageFoodRules, Laws
Values (Software of the mind)
Adapted From: Geert Hofstede & Gert Jan Hofstede, Cultures and organizations: Software of the mind, 2005
Culture is like an iceberg.Most of what we know about people is hiddenbelow the surface (theirthinking, values, etc.)
Stages of Intercultural Sensitivity
Denial Defense Minimization Acceptance Adaptation Integration
Source: M.J. Bennett, The Intercultural Communication Institute
Stages of Intercultural Sensitivity
Ethnocentric Stages Denial of differences Defense against difference Minimization of difference
Ethnorelative Stages Acceptance of difference Adaptation of difference Integration of difference
Source: M.J. Bennett, The Intercultural Communication Institute
Example:INDIA
INDIA FACTS
Population: 1 billion 16.7% of world’s population Median Age: 24.9
Literacy Rate: 59.5% English Speaking: 350 million
Religions
Religions: Hindu 80.5% Muslim 13.4% Christian 2.3% Sikh 1.9% Other 1.8% Unspecified 0.1%
Food
Religious value (Non-violence, halaal, caste taboos)
Symbolic value (fasting) Societal value (hospitality)
Gujarati Thali
This is a typicalvegetarian mealin the state ofGujarat, India.