Reflections on Chapter 13 Cross-Cultural Communication

            Turn the television on today to any news channel, and you are likely to hear about coronavirus, COVID 19, or any other variations of names of the ongoing pandemic. However, those terms are not all from public health officials, but it does show the challenges that cross-cultural communication poses for public health and healthcare workers around the world. “Communication is the transfer of information and meaning, and it has become even more important over the past decades—the start of the so-called information age—than it was previously.”¹  Cross-cultural communication aspects fall in three concepts intracultural, intercultural, and international communication; all three can occur for public health communication. These three concepts are essential, as not all communication is verbal, some international and intercultural communication kisses on the cheek or bowing are methods of greeting or acceptance.

                It is difficult not to place personal expression into this reflection, as I had to endure barriers to cross-cultural communication growing up.  A primary issue in cross-cultural communication is political rhetoric in discussing pandemic challenges. Still, as a public health or healthcare worker, the text failed to mention on how to overcome obstacles of the media and political communication. One example of cross-cultural communication failure is the removal of CDC health experts from Beijing when it could have responded earlier to the outbreak in China and provide more information about upcoming dangers.²  

                On a separate note of my reflection, I wanted to bring about awareness of the term Chinese Virus. Chinese does not limit to those who live in China but include dialects and diverse cultures. Taiwan is my nation of birth, is not recognized as a nation to the United States or by the United Nations. Politically people from Taiwan consider themselves Taiwanese, but culturally and historically wise associate themselves as Chinese. The term Chinese Virus is a massive failure in cross-cultural communication. The WHO has condemned it and explained that giving viruses generic names prevents stigmatizing other cultures.³ Solidarity efforts to combat this virus require collaboration and cross-cultural communication, especially seeing how many countries and people it has affected.

Reflective question

Due to current pandemic events, cross-cultural communication has become increasingly important. Do you believe that negotiation and cultural gestures need to follow during a dire pandemic?

Some cultures can be prideful and find it repulsive to apologize, would you be offended if you were wronged, and would you apologize if you made a mistake despite knowing they look down on it?

Figure 1.1 – International miscommunication is shared, like this depiction from the famous movie Rush Hour. Public health communication has come a long way, but challenges increase exponentially when cultures, languages, and history play a factor.

References

1. Rowitz L. Essentials of Leadership in Public Health. (Riegelman R, ed.). Burlington: Jones Bartlett Learning; 2018.
2. Taylor M. Reuters. Exclusive: U.S. slashed CDC staff inside China prior to coronavirus outbreak - Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-china-cdc-exclusiv/exclusive-u-s-slashed-cdc-staff-inside-china-prior-to-coronavirus-outbreak-idUSKBN21C3N5. Published 2020. Accessed July 5, 2020.
3. Kopecki D. WHO officials warn US President Trump against calling coronavirus ‘the Chinese virus. CNBC. https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/18/who-officials-warn-us-president-trump-against-calling-coronavirus-the-chinese-virus.html. Published 2020. Accessed July 5, 2020.