How cross-cultural relationships can derail

1. How cross-cultural relationships can derail

2. Recognizing one’s own unconscious bias Which is “better”?? We have a human tendency to be biased towards what is like us or what we’re used to. When we don’t recognize and accommodate for our unconscious bias, we may lose some choices around how to act (or the quality of our legal services).

3. Otherwise . . . . Second Client • Soft spoken • Appreciative • No interrupting First Client Interrupted Loud Not deferential

4. I will end up providing inferior services to people who do not fit my assumptions unless I can . . . • Step back and see my own assumptions about what is appropriate, or what constitutes appropriate behavior • See and question my automatic judgments against those who do not fit it • And . . .

5. Make my expectations explicit (and negotiable).

6. Don’t Believe Everything You Think!

7. Federal Poverty Guidelines Federal poverty guidelines (FPG) for a family of four: $23,550* ____ of people live in poverty in the U.S. (2009) ____ of children live in poverty (2008) * 2012 pretax income (not including noncash benefits such as public housing, Medicaid, employer-provided health insurance and food stamps)

8. Budgeting for poverty – average amounts spent * www.povertyusa.org

9. Budgeting for poverty – what about? • Clothes • Recreation • Cleaning supplies • Holiday gifts • Furnishings • Toiletries (Target) • Laundromat • School supplies

10. Poverty and Disability • Between 50 and 60% of those in poverty have a disability. • Mental illness is two to nine times higher in poverty. • Some difficulties among persons 15 years old and over: • 5%: seeing words and letters in ordinary newsprint • 6%: hearing what is said in a conversation with another person • 9%: walking three city blocks • 8%: lifting and carrying a full bag of groceries • 4%: going outside the home alone to shop or visit a doctor's office (1.5 million used wheelchair, 4.0 million used a cane, etc.)