Perspectives Showed: Handling Cultural Differences in Modern Social Justice Teaching by Lourdes

Perspectives Showed: Handling Cultural Differences in Modern Social Justice Teaching by Lourdes - March 2024 Scholarship Essay

A different dynamic developed in my class, Modern Social Justice Movements: Gender & Sexuality. Even though women made up the majority of the class, there was one male student whose viewpoint on the course's importance differed from everyone else's. He stated that women's rights/history should not be taught as a required subject in the classroom, especially in public schools where such courses are not always available. His point of view seemed alien to me because I go to a private school where conversations about gender and sexuality are more common.

His disapproval, originating from his Chinese heritage, exposed a sharp gap in teaching methods. He explained that his family, like many others, had never studied women's history and that there were no official classes in his native country committed to the subject. The conversation led to an in-depth investigation of cultural differences and the influence of familial upbringing on personal viewpoints.

I didn't judge whether he was correct or not, but this experience forced me to look at cultural influences more closely and go beyond the obvious conclusions. Even though I went to a liberal school where women's rights discussions are encouraged, this voice pointed out how important it is to understand different cultural viewpoints.

I fought against the urge to write off his disagreement with total removal. Rather, I stood back and thought about how much our beliefs are shaped by our families and cultures. It forced me to face the fact that our upbringing and backgrounds have a significant influence on how we perceive the world. Though our opinions may vary, this experience taught me that true understanding can only come from staying away from judgment and making an effort to see past our own biases.

This experience made me doubt the idea that education is universal. Though I had previously taken the idea that some topics, such as women's rights, ought to be taught to everyone for granted, I started to recognize the diversity of educational styles found throughout the world. This event pointed out the importance of cultural sensitivity and the understanding that something that might be taken for granted in one context may be seen very differently in another.

While navigating the conversations in a class full of women, I also noticed how crucial it is to promote open-mindedness. It was clear that some of our classmates opposed him and were doubtful of him. But rather than encouraging rivalry, this circumstance pointed out the need to establish environments where different viewpoints are valued and successfully discussed.

Following this interaction, I noticed that I was thinking about the broader consequences for public discourse. Being able to interact with those who hold different opinions without reacting poorly is essential for developing empathy and closing knowledge gaps. This educationally grounded experience serves as a reminder that engaging in serious discussion necessitates an ability to hear, understand, and value different points of view.

To sum up, this experience in my Modern Social Justice Movements class showed the influence that culture and family have on developing an individual's worldview. It forced me to examine beliefs, value the variety of methods for teaching, and develop an open-minded mentality. Even though I didn't agree with the opposing point of view, this experience taught me that true understanding comes from seeing past our own viewpoints and appreciating the variety that people from different backgrounds bring to the discussion.