Which of the following is not included in evaluating the degree of heritage consistency in a client?
A. Gender
B. Culture
C. Ethnicity
D. Religion
Correct Answer: A. Gender
The term heritage consistency is used to describe how much or how little a person’s lifestyle reflects his or her traditional culture. If one is very “consistent” with their heritage, then one maintains more of the core values, beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors of one’s cultural heritage.
Option B: Acculturation is necessary to survival so it is involuntary. The degree to which one becomes acculturated and the speed of the process is affected by an individual’s circumstances and choices. Children, who can easily avail themselves of socialization via public schools, tend to acculturate quickly in the U.S. They have an easier time learning a new language.
Option C: Many European Americans today – Irish Americans, Italian Americans, French Americans, etc. – are disconnected from their cultural heritage. Exploring the assimilation experience of one’s forebears can be very eye-opening. America’s history is truly a history of immigration, acculturation, and assimilation (with notable exceptions/variations).
Option D: Along with the socio-economic factors of poverty, literacy, and health literacy, culturally responsive care takes into account the heritage consistency of individual patients within the context of family dynamics. In an effort to avoid applying cultural generalizations too rigidly, providers explore the indicators of cultural consistency with their patients from different cultural backgrounds to understand how closely each individual adheres to the traditional culture in which they were raised.