Conflicting Cultures: Ethical Dilemmas

In his books on multicultural education, James Banks describes how we all live as part of various microcultures.   Microcultures are the smaller cultural units that exist within a larger macroculture.  Banks states that while there are “overarching values, symbols, and ideations” in the larger cultural structure, “various microcultural groups…may mediate, interpret, reinterpret, perceive and experience” (p. 56) these ideas differently.  One theme that I have seen emerging from different studies that I am working on is the notion of conflict between different microcultures that create ethical dilemmas for individuals.  

During a focus group study with music therapists, several participants brought up ethical dilemmas that occur when their personal values or ideals are in conflict with the families or institutions they are serving.  One participant described how his institution regularly brings in visitors or potential funders into music therapy sessions.  While the institution prioritizes the need for funding and support, the clinician was concerned about the impact on the quality of clinical sessions.  Another music therapist who worked in hospice care mentioned the concerns that arise when family member have different ideas about pain management then what the clinical team would recommend. 

 

In a different study with frequent visitors at a local children’s museum, one mother described her concerns when she saw other parents that she felt were not engaged with their children at the museum.  She felt that parents should be playing with their children rather than using their phones or other technology.   The same parent talked about inviting other neighborhood children to come to the museum with her family to get them out of the house.  This mother seemed to have a clear idea what children need for healthy development and she experienced a dilemma when she did not observe those same behaviors in other families.  

My dissertation study explored the experience of growing up with a sibling with an autism spectrum disorder.  Several of the young adult participants described tensions with their parents when they felt  their parent was not giving their sibling what they needed.  The siblings faced the dilemma of deciding which family member to support—their sibling or their parent.

 

 Within any large, long standing group, there are smaller subgroups.  As we share a common space with each other, it may be important to recognize the variation in values and ideas that occurs within some of these smaller group structures.  The value and ideas that we have form our sense of right and wrong.  Variations in beliefs can create conflict and other ethical dilemmas. 

Banks, J. A. (1999). An Introduction to Multicultural Education. Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon.