Fear & Loathing in the Training Room

[rock_chick_333]

I've just got back to my desk from a training session on Cross Cultural Awareness, during which our facilitator (a Punjabi-English guy) went on at length about the importance of understanding cultural difference, and how it was on the dominant culture to understand and adapt to the cultural norms of foreigners in our midst, because we have the

Comments

[obstinatrix]

...

Um. Yeah, as you said, his illustration actually contradicts his original point. The dominant culture of The Family has the power; the foreigner in the midst of it is the poor gay girl, to whose needs, according to his original illustration, everybody else should be adapting and understanding.

FUCK YOU THEN.

[rock_chick_333]

FUCK YOU THEN.

This, so much. I'm sure the message he meant to convey was, "White English culture is not the only valid one, and you should be sensitive and respectful to other people's cultures" - which I have no problem with, in itself. However, the message he actually conveyed was, "Other cultures think it's fine to bully people along gender** and sexuality lines, and that's their right". Which I am so very, very Not Okay With.

** I forgot to rant about the part where he loomed over a seated woman to demonstrate different cultural ideas of personal space, and she said, "Yeah, I get that, but it's intimidating and you're really making me uncomfortable," and he continued to loom over her for several minutes while she squirmed and twitched, holding forth about how her cultural desire not to feel physically threatened did not trump his opposing cultural desire to not feel rejected. Um, how about HELL TO THE NO. PUT YOUR TINY LITTLE HETEROSEXUAL DICK BACK IN YOUR CROSS-CULTURAL PANTS AND TRY TO REMEMBER THAT THERE ARE AXES OF

[salty_catfish]

Um. :/

[rock_chick_333]

I know, right??

[vamous]

I'm almost speechless on your behalf - I just can't comprehend how the trainer is soooo clueless. I can't imagine you were that subtle either, and he just didn't pick up on that?

Can I suggest that while snippy letter to Human Resources is not a bad idea (although presumably they didn't mean to choose a twat as a trainer), a letter to the MD of the company the trainer is from might achieve a more satisfying reaction!

[rock_chick_333]

There were at least two other people besides me who were asking him why, if he was so okay with her sexuality, was he not prepared to stand by her and invite her girlfriend to his own home regardless of the rest of the family, but he just kept saying that it affected more than just him, and that he had no right to ruin the marriageability of the other family members. It was obvious we all found it problematic, but he Just Didn't Get It. And didn't have the sense to STFU about it, either.

I'm gonna start with Human Resources and see if I can get them to escalate it to his MD for me. They hold the purse strings, and therefore have more clout.

[smidgeson]

Don't get me started on who should adapt to who in matters of culture, language and immigration, the whole subject makes my blood boil.

[rock_chick_333]

I live in a very mixed area, and I have no problem with multiculturalism. I love the Diwali fireworks and I'm unfazed by hearing Polish conversation at the bus stop. I do, however, have a problem with the idea that foreign national cultural expression is a valid excuse for shitting all over queer people and women.

[wolfrider89]

Jesus fuck. Just... no. I can't even begin to express how pissed I am.