Safe Space Report Essay

Cultural enrichment- it allows the community to explore perceptions and challenge stereotypes. It also gives support to members of all minority groups (for example, ethnic, racial, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, and religious), and encourage collaborative efforts, to work together.

Embracing an accepting different cultures is to, “Give [them] your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free” America accepts them so that they can experience freedom (Lazarus 9). Lazarus defines the acceptance of cultures of others by inviting them to the country for safety and freedom from others. Many have the want of freedom that what gives Americans a similar voice and the willingness to accept others as one of their own. To embrace and accept different cultures can be due to our similarity, “They came to us speaking many tongues—but a single language, the universal language of human aspiration.” And with this we readily accepted them into the American society (Roosevelt 10). To embrace the many cultures that “speak many tongs” as Roosevelt said is accepting them as they are and still considering them American (Roosevelt 10). Americans also love to their freedom and

Taking the first concern mentioned into consideration, we can easily relate to cross-cultural researcher, Edward T. Hall’s differentiation between high-context cultures and low-context cultures.

Accepting the differences of others by expanding your own level of understanding begins with the awareness that your own culture

Cultural competence is about having awareness, respect and understanding about the diversity around you. Cultural competence is one of the eight key practices that the early years learning framework features as vital to support a child’s learning. Cultural competence is about learning and building an understanding about different cultures while being respectful and open about different cultures and the people within them. Its more then just awareness of cultural differences, its about the ability to understand people across different cultures and developing constructive attitudes concerning cultural difference.

Does safe spaces at universities make for a better experience for minorities like blacks, LGBTQ, or anyone that’s not heterosexual white males. Safe spaces are places where anyone can relax and freely express themselves without fear of being made to feel uncomfortable, unwelcome, or unsafe. University of Chicago in the class 2020 received a letter explicitly stating that they support academic freedom which in terms that they do not support “trigger warnings,” and even went as far to say that they don't condone the creation of “intellectual safe spaces.” In response to this letter sent out to the class of 2020 regarding safe spaces Cameron Okeke wrote the article “I’m a black UChicago graduate. Safe spaces got me through college,” arguing that

But what is cultural safety? Cultural safety is when a safe environment is created for people who are culturally diverse. It is an environment in which respects their culture and encourages their sense of self and identity. – It does this by “being free of assault, challenges or denial of their identity. This means being mindful of their culture and history” –definition from the Maori nursing fraternity in New Zealand. (Robyn Williams, 2008).

Trigger Warnings on College Campuses According to the Harvard Political Review, a safe space regarding a college campus is defined as “protection from emotional discomfort.” Although being comfortable about yourself and your opinions is a good thing, having designated spaces where people can not voice their opinion because it “could hurt someone” is not. In an interview with political and civil rights activists and former advisor to former president Barack Obama, Van Jones. He was asked where he stood on the subject of “safe spaces” on college campuses.

We as humans come in different shape and sizes also with different cultures and beliefs. We humans should understand people do not always have the same belief or the same culture. In “My so called Enemy”, “American stands for Tolerance” by Ronald J. Allen, and “Texas vs. Johnson” by: William J. Brennan. In these three texts they all define the meaning of accepting people’s different opinion or different culture. We human beings must be willing to accept people or their opinions that are different from ourselves.

Cultural awareness: having an understanding and appreciation for different cultures as well as your own. Being culturally aware allows you gain more insight and increases your knowledge on the way of life in other countries. You get a different perspective and a better appreciation for other cultures thereby eliminating close-mindedness. (San Diego State University, n.d.)

This essay will also discuss the authors own culture, knowledge, experience and behaviour that were previously discussed in assessment 1. According to Quappe and Cantatore (2005), in order for one to be culturally self-aware, the ability to understand one’s own belief, perceptions and cultural values are necessary for understanding and the development of other’s cultural dynamics. Moreover, according to Brislin, Worthley and Macnab

Culture is the totality of learned, socially transmitted customs, knowledge, material objects, and behavior. It includes ideas, values, and artifacts of groups of people (Schaefer, 2006). Understanding culture can be tricky, ever ask “why do people act the way they do?”, “what made me do that”, “what was I thinking?” Physical abilities, educational background, and social background of how I was raised are important aspects of my life. The environment in which I was raised is very important aspect of my life.

We live in a rapidly changing world, which is increasingly bringing people of various cultures in closer interaction with each other. This interaction can be positive or negative depending on the level of sensitivity and respect people have for other cultural groups. Negative attitudes towards other cultures and/or ethnic groups arise out of ethnocentrism, while positive attitudes are the result of a culturally relativist approach. If people are going to be successful in today's multicultural, informative society, they will need to develop a culturally sensitive frame of reference and mode of operation.

The National Center for Cultural Competence defines “cultural awareness” as being cognizant, observant, and conscious of similarities and differences among and between cultural groups (Goode). Awareness of culture when traveling to a foreign country is invaluable knowledge which only serves to enhance one’s travel experience. “There is no more noble calling than to help the people of the world live together in peace and understanding with a

Safe spaces should be included and supported on campuses but the university in its entirety must not become a safe space.