Impact of Cultural Diversity

Impact of Cultural Diversity

 

Cultural diversity is found in many of the contexts and presented in different societies. Recognizing the multicultural environments is advised to promote understanding but might be difficult because of the hindrances and constraints. Still, only the people who aim to deliver the quality of service in their profession realize the deep-rooted needs and took the necessary step to see the benefits. 

Through incorporating a review on the studies regarding the cultural diversity as well as the diversity issues, the impact of counseling methods in the concept of gender, identity, and cultural differences plays a significant role in building a relationship. Within a cultural diversified environment, there are contemporary approaches that concerns in the common problems and the projected benefits which can be also the result of the counseling methods and strategies. In strengthening the counseling process, the counselor should understand the various factors that might affect the behavior or attitude of the individual.

When the counseling process is affected by diversification, there is a momentarily discussion on whether the ability of the counselors are suited to their environment. Differences in the population are characterized by the traditional attributes like the age, gender, race, ethnicity, or in culture.  The multicultural population during the learning process can transcend multifaceted outcome.

Various theories facilitated the changing world as well as the society when it comes to cultural diversity. This includes the Hofstede (1980), which is effective for the business leaders to understand the foreign market. The theories of development and globalization somehow, affect the rapid changes in the society and the way people think on others. In terms of counseling, it is highlighted that the counselors should have a great understanding with regards to cultural diversity to successfully facilitate the learning and progress in the relationship towards their clients or rather the students. It is still an argument on how this initiation is possible, if there are existing challenges and constraints.  This emphasizes that addressing the problems is not enough to build the counseling relationship even in a cultural diversified population. Exploring the world of counseling process and the impact of the cultural diversified population might draw the importance in understanding the cultural diversity in counseling process. In a cultural diversified population, counselors might quite recognized as intimidating because of the wide range of topic that they can discuss and practices that they can work together such as the gender and the identity (Quast, 2007).

Because of the rapid change, the culture is affected which is also considered as an important aspect of their human being. For some, the differences between the people are the main root for the conflict. Cultural diversity exists because of the observation and comparison of the cultures. The awareness in the diversity is now widely facilitated by the globalization and the continuous progress in communications that purposely created to interact with the other people. But there, is no guarantee that awareness is enough to understand the differences among the individuals. Society, as a whole, responds on the various issues thrown to the cultural diversity but the challenges remain in the difficult level. Moreover, the global approach on “moving ahead” of many nations tends to affect the level of understanding of the society in the cultural diversification and its evolving world (UNESCO, 2009). If the society continues to be resistant and reluctant regarding the differences of the culture, there is an identified increase in complexity with the issue of the cultural diversity particularly in counseling methods and other practices.

Through the counseling strategies and methods, the cultural diversity can be addressed and might result in a more accessible, practical and introduce the form of integrative perspective. The basic practices in the counseling skills within the multicultural context are an important tool to provide the students the appropriate advice. In the meantime, the counselors can review the different methods and practices in which they can collect important details and can be more accurate in assessing the situations.  The issue of gender differences, identity, and cultural diversity is a problem that exists in the society and as a part of the counseling profession, the need for the comprehensive and concise strategies is a must. Therefore, there should be a unique focus on what the issue is all about. For an instance, recognizing the growth and development of an individual in the midst of cultural diversity can be a foundation on how the counselors should think and act.

 References:

Hofstede, G. (1980), Culture’s Consequences International Differences in Work-Related Values. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.

Quast, L., (2007) Your Career, Your Way. WingSpan Press, pp. 80-82

UNESCO, (2009) “Investing in Cultural Diversity and Intercultural Dialogue”, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization World Report, Accessed 23 March 2011, from http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0018/001847/184755E.pdf