Sensitivity or stereotyping?

[katc90]

It was recently brought up in a conversation between classmates the fine line between being cultural sensitive towards those around you and stereotyping. Where is the distinction between the two and when does sensitivity cross the line to stereotyping?

[klone, MSN, RN]

Examples?

[rn/writer, RN]

IMO, it's mostly an attitude. Stereotyping makes assumptions. Being considerate (I sooo dislike the way political correctness has just about ruined the word "sensitivity") is open to new information or at least is aware that a typical assumption IS an assumption and could be wrong.

Stereotyping presumes to know more than it actually does. Being considerate asks questions.

Stereotyping decides that every member of a particular group shares the same beliefs, practices, prohibitions, likes, dislikes, and other attributes. Being considerate understands that, while there may be some common traits, thoughts and actions, there is a wide spectrum of variety within most groups just because people are people.

Stereotyping imposes certain expectations on others based on partial information and limited experience. Being considerate gets the concept that appearances can be deceiving and human beings are many-layered creatures.

Some people with dark skin are not black. Some black people are not African-American. Some white people are very culturally aware. Some Asian students are below-average students. Some Jewish people don't worry about dietary laws. And so on.

If you are in doubt, recognize that you may be starting with a stereotype. Acknowledging that and looking further puts you in a much better position to either ask questions outright or keep an eye out for more information. The difference between being considerate and stereotyping is the willingness to admit you don't know what you don't know.

[MN-Nurse, ASN, RN]

It was recently brought up in a conversation between classmates the fine line between being cultural sensitive towards those around you and stereotyping. Where is the distinction between the two and when does sensitivity cross the line to stereotyping?

Knowing what time a patient likes to pray and scheduling cares to give that patient privacy is cultural sensitivity.

Asking for an ETOH protocol based only on race without knowing any other data on the patient is stereotyping.

Any questions?

[DixieRedHead, ASN, RN]

If you're talking about you, it's sensitivity. If you're talking about me it's sterotyping.

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

I found the cultural sensitivity stuff I had to do in nursing school to be terribly, well, racist. AA's live in a matriarchy, yada yada yada. Cripes.