Multiculturalism and Interculturalism
Multiculturalism and Interculturalism
Paper details
Antonio and Charlotte assess Bob’s comments and decide some education around
distinguishing between multiculturalism and interculturalism is needed. Complete the
items below to help Antonio and Charlotte plan the learning events.
1. Create an email that would be dispersed to the entire organization that briefly but
directly explains the difference between multiculturalism and interculturalism.
Provide an example of each ideology.
2. Write an email to Bob’s manager, the head of the accounting department, using
Bob’s comments to explain the distinction between multiculturalism and
interculturalism. The purpose of this email is to provide context for conversations
between Bob and his manager and how he can grow in this area. Be clear about
the barriers to intercultural communication evident in Bob’s comments (listed
below):
3. Narrow cultural framing: Framing is how a person views the world and other
people in the world. When a person’s frames are limited to their own cultural
perspective, biases, and preferences, then communicating effectively with others
is difficult.
4. Ethnocentric thinking: Making assumptions and judgements about other cultures
based on one’s own culture, so that other cultures are defined only in comparison
to one’s own culture, not as fully formed entities.
5. Erroneous attributing: Assigning or attributing meaning to a person or group
based on our own thoughts, assumptions, or judgements without proof that the
assigned meanings are accurate. Acting on these attributions interferes with
effective intercultural communication.
6. Stereotyping: Painting a group with a broad brush instead of recognizing each
person’s individuality and the variation within a culture.
Scenario:
Antonio and Charlotte are managers in a medium-sized organization and chair the
organization’s new diversity committee. They are excited to implement the strategies for
creating an equitable workplace where people feel they belong.
During a team meeting, Bob comments that the accounting department is already intercultural
and doesn’t need any DEI training or initiatives. To make his point, he states, “Three of our
accountants are Korean, and one is Black, plus our department assistant is Spanish or Latin or
something. We just promoted a woman to be team lead on the Cooper Incorporated account.
Besides, our people in accounting don’t want to be singled out for their culture. They are all part
of the regular team like the rest of us non-diversity folks. We just want to do our job well and
get recognized for that. Your plan is just going to make them feel different from the rest of us.”
Instructions:
Antonio and Charlotte assess Bob’s comments and decide some education around
distinguishing between multiculturalism and interculturalism is needed. Complete the items
below to help Antonio and Charlotte plan the learning events.
Create an email that would be dispersed to the entire organization that briefly but
directly explains the difference between multiculturalism and interculturalism. Provide
an example of each ideology.
Write an email to Bob’s manager, the head of the accounting department, using Bob’s
comments to explain the distinction between multiculturalism and interculturalism. The
purpose of this email is to provide context for conversations between Bob and his
manager and how he can grow in this area. Be clear about the barriers to intercultural
communication evident in Bob’s comments (listed below):
Narrow cultural framing: Framing is how a person views the world and other people in
the world. When a person’s frames are limited to their own cultural perspective, biases,
and preferences, then communicating effectively with others is difficult.
Ethnocentric thinking: Making assumptions and judgements about other cultures based
on one’s own culture, so that other cultures are defined only in comparison to one’s own
culture, not as fully formed entities.
Erroneous attributing: Assigning or attributing meaning to a person or group based on
our own thoughts, assumptions, or judgements without proof that the assigned
meanings are accurate. Acting on these attributions interferes with effective
intercultural communication.
Stereotyping: Painting a group with a broad brush instead of recognizing each person’s
individuality and the variation within a culture.
