Mediation is the interactive process where a third party or an indirectly involved person helps conflicting parties settle a dispute through negotiation techniques and effective specialized communication. All three parties are encouraged to actively participate in the mediation process to achieve the best in all the anticipated outcomes to the individuals and society. Characteristically, culture affects mediation in both positive and negative ways. Thus, this discussion seeks to explain how culture exclusively impacts the mediation process.
Culture affects individual interactions within society as it can influence more assertive and outspoken behaviors. Cultural differences are how people in a particular social group view themselves with others. It causes personality and behavioral differences like thinking, communication, norms, and body language, resulting in miscommunication, which leads to the mediation process (Benedict, 2018). However, neglecting cultural sensitivity affects the mediation process and may result in substandard mediation services. This impacts how I resolve or seek justice since it could cause cultural bias, thus an unsuccessful mediation process. Cultural sensitivity neglecting could also result in the mediator’s bias and prejudices, therefore no just dispute resolution.
During my first days at work, I was discriminated against due to my skin color, which led to low self-esteem. The conflict arose due to culturally different backgrounds among employed workers within the organization. Due to cultural diversification, the management saw a need to employ new workers from different cultural backgrounds. When one is discriminated against by fellow workmates, the morale to work towards the set goals deteriorates and can lead to work-related stress. I overcame the issue by talking to the human resource manager to foresee the issue as it was not creating a conducive working environment for me. The workers that were seen to have issues with my color were given a warning, and others lost their jobs as a lesson to others. They emphasized the need to learn how to coexist for the betterment of the company. However, in Japan, conflicts are resolved not through the court but according to “giri” which stands for obligations to build a personal relationship with the superiors.
One belief that I support is freedom as it is vital in every organization because every individual is entitled to express their views. Freedom is essential in every work environment as it allows individuals to socialize freely and give ideas concerning specific issues regarding the company. I feel that this belief is vital to every worker as it gives chances to individuals to speak on the issues that oppress them while working. Also, they can complain about different matters that influence their outcome in achieving the organizations’ goal. Since my culture is different from that of other workers, it has been associated with many shortcomings in the organization, which has made me feel discriminated. Solving this cultural dispute would not be an easy task as it would involve my coworkers having to learn about my culture and understand it so they can get the reasons I act the way I do. Many will resist but not until they know my culture; the problem about it will keep on repeating.
The most appropriate way to solve such an issue is through mediation, whereby qualified personnel will advise the team about how to tackle the issue. The expert might offer suggestions we should follow or might give alternative ways to end the conflict like, not adhering to one’s cultural beliefs in the work setting. In my view, mediation is the best way to solve the issue as the external person will not be bias and side with the majority.
Conclusively, culture affects mediation in that there is always the need to have a common understanding among different ethnic groups. Awareness of cultural diversity is vital for mediation since it helps involved parties trust the process, feel comfortable amongst one another and work towards the resolution. People should respond in a seemingly proper manner toward each other despite the cultural differences, which will promote proper social interactions; hence easy and proper mediation is achieved.
Reference
Benedict, B., 2018. Making the modern reader: Cultural Mediation in Early Modern Literary Anthologies. Princeton University Press.