ditto "to "Never assume - always ask" which brings back full circle to the
point re blind dogs and muslim communities made a wee while ago

Vijay



-----Original Message-----
From: Health of minority ethnic communities in the UK
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Lorraine
Culley
Sent: 19 January 2004 08:55
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: FW: Ethnicity Online project




I think the best advice is "Never assume - always ask".  But it is important
to know what to ask about. In my experience  students and staff desire these
guides because by and large they are trying to "do the right thing" and
avoid offense. Those who are involved in the education of health workers
need to show an alternative approach - which is in any case simply good
practice for all clients.

Lorraine Culley
De Montfort University]
Leicester
-----Original Message-----
From: Alastair Owens
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: 16/01/2004 16:09
Subject: Re: Ethnicity Online project

An example...

Yasmin Gunaratnam's work offers a constructive critique of 'cultural
guides' within the field of palliative care, making many of the points
raised by Alison and Luarence. It is also suggestive of other ways of
developing 'cultural awareness' and 'anti-discriminatory practice'

Gunaratnam, Y. (1997) Culture is not enough. A critique of
multi-culturalism in palliative care, in Field, D., Hockey, J. & Small,
N. (eds.) Death, Gender and Ethnicity, Routledge, London, pp. 166–186.

Gunaratnam, Y., Bremmer, I., Pollock, C. & Weir, C. (1998)
Anti-discrimination, emotions and professional practice, European
Journal of Palliative Care, 5 (4), pp. 122–124.

In the research that I have done with health care professionals around
such issues, there was a general enthusiasm for cultural guides as
'starting points'. However, there was also ready recognition of their
limits, and we should not assume such resources are used uncritically.
But to use a phrase of Yasmin Guanaratnam, there are real dangers that
result from 'categorical thinking', that Alison and Laurence have
usefully alerted the list to. The website certainly looks useful, but
the provisionality and positionality of some of the material it contains

might be more readily signalled.

Alastair Owens
--
Dr Alastair Owens
Department of Geography
Queen Mary, University of London
Mile End Road, London, E1 4NS
United Kingdom

Tel +44 (0) 20 7882 5401
Fax +44 (0) 20 8981 6276
Email [log in to unmask]

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