Chapter 4 Developing Diversity Consciousness: Stepping Outside of Ourselves Stepping outside of ourselves helps to increase awareness and understanding (Butcher, 2015) reports, that it enables you to see through other’s eyes. Also, he encourages us to put ourselves in other people’s shoes. This will in turn give us the ability to view experiences through different perspectives. In addition, while bringing awareness to our own perspectives. Many times we may interpret or draw a conclusion using one point of reference, which is our own. W.E.B. Du Bois the author of a book entitled: The Soul of Black Folk, refers to a term in his book called “double consciousness”. This term is when you have the ability to be aware of your own perspectives as well as other’s perspectives. It’s like shifting in different worlds without losing sight of your own world. Having a double consciousness will allow you to think flexibly, and respond appropriately in any given situation where there are a cultural difference
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They may have their own perspectives of similar and/ or different experiences that they themselves have encountered. The helping professional must be equipped with having double consciousness. The ability to step outside of one’s self, and culture to see/understand the individual’s point of view/perspective. This will set the tone for openness, and hopefully the client will feel comfortable in sharing their own perspective about their experience or experiences. In addition, having double consciousness will alleviate appearing and/or becoming judgmental to other’s perspectives. In the helping field, we are challenged by clients that may have difficulty expressing their own perspectives for fear of being judged. As the helper, learning the skill of stepping outside of ourselves, and/or to having double consciousness will be one of many tools needed to have a positive
They may have their own perspectives of similar and/ or different experiences that they themselves have encountered. The helping professional must be equipped with having double consciousness. The ability to step outside of one’s self, and culture to see/understand the individual’s point of view/perspective. This will set the tone for openness, and hopefully the client will feel comfortable in sharing their own perspective about their experience or experiences. In addition, having double consciousness will alleviate appearing and/or becoming judgmental to other’s perspectives. In the helping field, we are challenged by clients that may have difficulty expressing their own perspectives for fear of being judged. As the helper, learning the skill of stepping outside of ourselves, and/or to having double consciousness will be one of many tools needed to have a positive