This exercise of engaging in dialogue regarding our cultural backgrounds and perspectives served to challenge and examine our preconceptions. However, unfortunately dialogue often occurs between individuals with similar ideas and backgrounds, limiting the potential for growth and challenge. It is most comfortable for us to avoid conflict and disagreement, although those are the instances in which we can learn more. Even when agreement can’t be reached, we work to develop our ideas, arguments, and communication to better share them and be understood.
Personally, I feel that my life circumstances have led me to situations where I have much in common with those around me. Even at a place like Wesleyan, where students come from different countries, economic backgrounds, family dynamics, and more; there is a sense of unity in that we all valued a college education, selected Wesleyan to be our institution, and were physically and financially able to attend. Once at Wesleyan, the culture of the academic and social communities impact our experience and form yet another bond between the student body. This doesn’t mean we all think the same, but it may eliminate the likelihood of disagreement based on certain factors, thus reducing the possibility of thoughtful examination of that area.
Through this activity and analysis, I have been inspired to seek out ways to adjust my cultural perspectives and framing, due to it helping me discover areas where my perspective may be limited due to my framing and societal positioning. When placed in a situation such as this one where my assumptions are challenged, it makes me want to learn more in order to have a better understanding of the true situation. It can be difficult to center experiences that aren’t your own, but I believe that it is necessary for increasing global awareness and understanding. I also felt inspired by the conversation with my peers. Each individual holds their own personal outlook and experience, and I was able to better understand them through their insights. Overall, I now better understand the concept of intercultural praxis and the steps one must take in order to increase global and cultural literacy.
In order to properly engage in intercultural praxis, action is needed, and requires you to enter into situations which may not be comfortable. Having assumptions challenged and entering into unfamiliar experiences can be intimidating, but our stereotypes and limited framing need to be removed in order to achieve meaningful growth towards the goal of intercultural understanding. If action isn’t taken, misunderstandings and preconceptions can continue to grow and limit our ability to interact with others in the world in an honest and open manner.
There exist many challenges to the development of one’s understanding of intercultural praxis. Since a large part of the process can involve listening to the stories of others and engaging in new experiences, we can be limited by our access to these options. There may be barriers due to politics, language, geography, or willingness of participants. Additionally, even when one wants to fully engage and change their preconceptions, it can be mentally challenging to unlearn what used to feel like a certainty. I believe that an important aspect of undergoing intercultural learning is to keep in mind that it is a long, ongoing process, especially since the world is constantly changing and we cannot ever decide that we have completed our worldview.
