Cultural Sensitivity

This week, PulseWire reached a membership of over 3000 members from more than 140 countries. I am proud to be a part of this unique community of women and supporters of women's initiatives, where members can speak out, listen and connect with each other to change the way we live.

We are a network of diverse nationalities, tribes and cultures. Celebrating our differences and learning from each other is what we do so well. As culture deeply influences our beliefs, perceptions and values, being aware that cultural differences exist and not assigning values to those differences, is key to maintaining the wellness of our community. However, there are times when our cultural differences may lead to misinterpretation.

For some PulseWire members, this may be their first time interacting in a global online community and they might misinterpret others' words, or keep their own postings so brief as to lead to misunderstandings. For others, English may not be their first language and as electronic communication is very limited, it is easy to misinterpret the tone behind what people say, or their posts or comments may seem unintentionally curt.

As with any community, misunderstandings and disagreements are inevitable but if executed in a manner of respect, they allow us to think critically. We welcome healthy debate and discourse, as long as cultural sensitivity is practiced by all members.

The PulseWire Lounge is a space for members to help shape the community culture. I'd like to open up the space for a discussion on cultural sensitivity. What have been your experiences in cultural misunderstandings and how can we overcome them? What does cultural sensitivity mean to you?