Systemic Oppression and Cultural Diversity: Putting Flesh on the Bones of Intercultural Competence

Abstract

The author addresses the challenges and opportunities of working in intercultural spaces and explores the conditions favorable to the emergence of psychological resources. After discussing the role of context, he describes how oppression emerges from complementary frames of reference that promote overadaptation to the dominant culture. He proposes that this diminishes authentic intercultural dialogue. However, greater access to resources can come about by expanding the Adult and emphasizing cultural awareness of self and other. Intercultural clients develop and enhance their resources when they cocreate shared frames of reference and expand their cultural frames of reference while accounting for their individual identity.