No one is born with cultural bias, but somewhere along the way people learn cultural bias. Cultural bias is where a person judges other cultures and its people and customs by what is considered accepted standards or norms for their own personal culture. Cultural bias often comes from ignorance of different cultures. Stereotyping is common with cultural bias. Fear can be a factor in cultural bias. “Mexican immigrants are taking all the jobs from American citizens,” is a commonly heard cultural bias. The truth is that these immigrants do jobs that many American’s would not do; they are often paid “under the table” and receive a pittance for wages. They work long, hard hours in oftentimes deplorable conditions. Most save their money and send it home to their families.

Culture embraces skin color, behaviors, language, religious beliefs, morals, superstitions, foods, music, arts, medical practices, manner of dress, laws, head of household and more. For example, in the United States the comfortable distance between two people in conversation is approximately twenty four inches. In many other cultures, people literally talk nose to nose. If someone attempts to converse that closely with an American, the unconscious and automatic response is to step backwards. Our “personal space” has been invaded and is perceived as a threat. “Get out of my face!” is often heard before a brawl erupts.

Cultural bias is learned behavior from family and surroundings. The first place one learns cultural bias is usually at the parent’s knee. If parents make concerted, conscious efforts to curb their own biases, children will remain unbiased until they are exposed to bias outside of the family home. Young children, who come from homes where cultural bias is never expressed openly, will play together with children of all cultures. While they may recognize and be curious about their playmates cultural differences, they do not feel threatened or different, and only want to get down to the business of playing.

Within the United States there are many different cultures. People of these cultures were once considered minorities. However, today these minorities now make up a significant portion of the population and are no longer considered minorities.

If one is consciously honest in self-assessment, nearly everyone has some cultural bias. To overcome cultural bias, one has to be aware of the bias first and foremost. Understanding your own bias, why you have a cultural bias, and where this cultural bias originated is key in learning acceptance. That which is different is often feared on some subconscious level. One’s comfort level is threatened. Once cultural bias is recognized, a conscious effort can then be made to change attitudes, emotions and prejudices. The most effective way to overcome cultural bias is to meet it “face to face”. Make a real effort to meet and befriend people from other cultures. Learn to be non-judgmental and respectful of people of different cultures. Learn and practice tolerance.

Education of different cultures is very important in overcoming cultural bias. Learning can come from travel to areas with different cultures. Read, study, take an international cooking class, enroll in sociology or a foreign language class, go to cultural festivals, visit a synagogue or a mosque, or visit an embassy. There are many ways to be exposed to different cultures.

The Golden Rule states that you should treat others as you wish to be treated. In cultural diversity the rule is you should treat others the way they wish to be treated.

Everyone of every culture has dreams, wishes and goals. Everyone feels love, feels pain, fears rejection, and yearns for understanding and acceptance. You will discover that the people of the world are more alike than different.