Jennifer L.

Beaver
Chapter 7
July 12, 2017

Just as human services professionals must work effectively with clients from unique and

distinctive cultures, they must also work within organizations with unique and distinctive

cultures (Kiser, 2016). The first cultural difference that I encountered at Horizon House, Inc.,

happened on my interview for my managerial position. I arrived at the site early, and my future

director had not arrived yet. I went to the door, and rang the bell. I was greeted by an African-

American man. I introduced myself, offering my hand to shake. An uncomfortable silence

ensued as he looked at my hand. He then walked away from me without making eye contact, or

shaking my hand. I thought it was odd, and mentioned it to the director while we were

interviewing. It turns out he was Muslin, and didnt shake a womans hand, let alone make eye

contact with a woman who wasnt his wife! I was mortified! I had no idea. I had never met a

Muslim man before, and had no idea of the etiquette protocol.

Throughout my career with Horizon House, I have learned about my own culture and

social location. I am a white woman who has Native American history, with strong cultural ties

to the gay community. My father and best friend were gay, so I grew up in the heterosexual

world, and the gay community. I benefited from white privilege in society, especially since my

Native American heritage does not show physically. My sister got the characteristics and was

bullied at school for them. Because I am a woman, I was viewed by some as less than and

because I was more of a Tom Boy, not thought of as a girl, either. Having a gay father caused

me much grief early on, with peers assuming that I was gay also. In working with my

participants, I have learned to let them tell me their story. I strive to be nonjudgmental and keep
my personal bias and values out of the conversation. Each participant is an individual, with their

own rich culture and heritage. It is to be respected and learned from, not mocked and ridiculed,

since it is different from my own.

My greatest cultural challenge has been learning about the Transgender community. We

now have a Transgender participant, and my staff and I are learning all that we can to support her

and find resources to aid her in her transition and Recovery. I have assessed my skill level with

different cultures by researching the culture and speaking with members of that culture for

clarity. My goals are to continue to further my knowledge and experience with other cultures by

mingling and putting myself in situations where I will become more exposed to the culture and

its people.