What Is My Cultural Identity

Cultural identity is the amalgamation of experiences, beliefs, values, and behaviours that have shaped the way a person lives their life. This identity dictates the way people interact with others, and respond to life events (Omeri & Raymond, 2013). My cultural identity has been shaped by my experiences of religion, family, travel, and education. These aspects of my cultural identity affect the way I may interact as a healthcare professional. It is important for me to be aware of my cultural identity and the way that this could colour my perspectives of health, and ensure that I look beyond my own culture and learn the cultural needs of others (Fanany & Fanany, 2009). A fundamental aspect for any health professional is the delivery culturally
Until I was 18 years old, I was raised in an ultra-conservative Christian church and home. This environment enforced the way I lived, my values, and the way I interact with those who were not in my religion. One thing I have noticed since I have started university, and through my first practical, is that there are times when the teachings of the church can be instinctual, despite my new beliefs. Therefore, it can still be difficult to convert my thinking from those beliefs that have been ingrained into my identity, and live entirely for my new beliefs. Religion is a large component of many cultures, and will often differ from my own religious and spiritual experiences, values, and beliefs. Furthermore, Religion also shapes the way that patients understand health, and religious diversity is something that must be addressed when planning health care for patients (Omeri & Raymond, 2009). This is particularly important in terms of being a health care provider, as the belief systems and culture of a health care provider shapes their health perspectives (Fanany and Fanany, 2009). It is important that as a health provider I do not allow my own religious or spiritual perspectives of health impact or overshadow the health needs of those I
I have been fortunate enough to travel overseas for a few months to various places within Europe. Due to the insular nature of the church I was raised in, this was one of the first times in my life that I had ever interacted with people outside of my immediate family or church. I have never met anyone who whose culture was not like my own. My multicultural experience had been limited to stories from church missionaries. During my travels, I was introduced to a variety of cultures, and I enjoyed learning and interacting with many different people. I also experienced the steep learning curve Wilson, Ward & Fischer (2013) mention when first interacting with and learning from other cultures. My lack of exposure to differing cultures may negatively impact on my social and professional interactions as a health care provider. This lack of awareness of the complexities of others culture, including the Indigenous culture, can lead to unknowingly putting minority groups at a disadvantage and is something I, as a health professional, must be aware of (Frederick,