HB Unit 2: Self-Awareness and Values for Social Work Practice
The purpose of this assignment is to understand human behavior in the context of the intersectionality and cultural influences. Intersectionality allows us the opportunity to view behavior and development through the lens of culture and the impact of societal bias.
Read the following case study and answer the following questions:
Which cultures are you a part of? What are three important norms of each of these cultures? Are there any conflicts in norms across the different cultures in which you participate? Explain. If you were to be Rubina’s social worker, what value and norm conflicts might come up in your work with her?

As you think about Rubina’s story, what implicit biases do you think people might have about her in the classroom, on the street or at the shopping mall, and at home? What are your reactions to the racial categories used by the U.S. Census Bureau? What do you think of the proposal to add a racial category of “Middle Eastern and North African” to census data? How important are race and ethnicity in your own life? Explain.

Compare and contrast the cultural experiences that Rubina is having as a young adult with your own young adult experiences, considering the following themes: cultural values, cultural ideology, cultural symbols, language, cultural norms, subcultures, and countercultures.

Now imagine that you and Rubina change places for a day. How do you think you might react to the values, symbols, and norms of Rubina’s life situation? How do you think she might react to the values, symbols, and norms of your life situation?
This case study and questions have been adapted from: Hutchison, E. D., & Charlesworth, L. W.(2021). Essentials of human behavior: Integrating person, environment, and the life course. Los Angeles: SAGE.