Ethics Explorer: Cultural Sensitivity in Social Performance Practice
Welcome to Ethics Explorer, your monthly guide to navigating ethical challenges in social performance practice. Each month, we explore one of the core ethical principles that guide our profession, illustrated with real examples and practical guidance. This month’s Ethics Explorer focuses on Cultural Sensitivity in Social Performance Practice.
Audio play here:
This Month’s Ethical Principle: Cultural Sensitivity
Practitioners should be aware of and sensitive to cultural differences, adapting their approaches to align with local values and norms while recognizing the impact of their actions on local cultures.
Example of this principle in social performance practice
Kofi adapts a grievance mechanism to incorporate traditional conflict resolution methods, ensuring the process respects local customs while meeting international standards. This cultural integration increases community trust and participation in the process.
Example of how a practitioner can face a difficult decision because they see this principle as being conflicted at work
Sofia struggles with implementing standardized corporate consultation procedures in a community where collective decision-making is deeply embedded in cultural practices.
She faces multiple pressures:
- Corporate requirements demand individual signed agreements
- Community leaders insist on collective consensus processes
- Project deadlines conflict with traditional decision-making timeframes
- Legal team requires “documented individual consent”
This reveals several tensions:
- Procedural conflicts: Corporate standards versus cultural norms
- Temporal challenges: Project timelines versus traditional processes
- Legal requirements: Formal documentation versus customary practices
- Professional standards: Balancing corporate and cultural expectations
