Refuge House Resources - Domestic Violence & Minorities.

Women of color often face both cultural barriers and a fear of racism when they are seeking help healing from violence in their lives. The following list, developed by Priscilla Barnes, Refuge House's Sexual Violence Program Director, identifies some of the barriers they may face.

Counselor's Race/Diversity within the Agency
Counselor's Attitude
Don't Believe in Counseling
Fear of stereotypes/myths (lack of eduation, promiscuity, etc.)
Seeking Help Outside the Family (Betrayal)
Religion
Fear of People Outside Their Own Community
Fear of System (Rejection)
Past Experiences with Agencies/Systems
Cultural Reasons (sign of Weakness, self-disclosure)
Fear of Being Judged
Cultural Norm
Lack of Services Available
Lack of Knowledge of Services
Lack of Trust
Male is Dominant

Tips for Helping Break Cultural Barriers

Know yourself. It is imperitive to gain a deeper understanding of yourself and others.
Know/be aware of your own (cultural) diversity
Use language/terminolgy sensitivity
Avoid oversimplifying racial terms (especially for descriptions)
Confront co-workers, staff, friends, yours and others' stereotypes and biases
Don't just blow it off; address issues as they occur
Be aware of & acknowledge strengths and problems
Avoid making blanket assumptions
It is essential to learn to work with differences, to see them as just that and only that - differences
It is important to understand and be aware of how you have been influenced by your background/culture/ethnicity/etc. and how others are influenced by theirs, as well as by yours.
It is important for you to achieve an understanding of how you personally work best with differences
Don't view cultural awareness and sensitivity as an option. It is no longer open for debate.