Mod 3 Discussion: Moving Students Into a New Culture

My experiences as Home Visitor for Early Head Start has taught me to be mindful and that it is never safe to assume anything about anything. I took great joy in learning family cultures from Sudan and Burma. Not all families are the same. Sometimes, the only thing they have in common, is the language that they speak. One family in particular were accustomed to not have underclothes on their children while they were walking around in the home. Mom would only put on a shirt. Yes, I was very uncomfortable, but I explained why it is considered inappropriate. Mom stated that when they are toilet training the little ones, they don't wear clothes. It makes it easier for them to go to toilet by themselves. She said when they are little they rarely wear underclothes and found it unnecessary. She also stated that in their culture body part are seen as body parts, body parts are not sexualized in families, but she said she understood that others may not see it that way and think it as strange, but she respected my wishes. And from that point on, the child was fully dressed when I had to do a home visit or virtual. Bodily hygiene is not always as important from culture to culture. It makes me think of Maslow's hierarchy of needs pyramid. I try to keep it in mind when ever I have come across situations like this.