July 1999: Perspective Taking
I've been thinking about "perspective taking" lately. Anna Ortiz, a Michigan
State University assistant professor and UC Davis alumna, introduced
me to this concept when she gave a campus presentation here in April.
An authority on multicultural issues in higher education, she discussed
how we each bring our own perspective to any discussion, and that within
a multicultural environment, our perspective will often differ from others'
and may result in confusion or conflict. She stressed that if we fail
to consider the perspectives of others, our decisions or actions may
be shortsighted, and our interactions ineffective. For example, the seemingly
simple word, "yes", means, "Yes, I agree" in one culture, and "Yes, I
hear you" but not necessarily "I agree" in another. Nonverbal behaviors
such as eye contact or personal distance also vary in meaning across
cultures. If we only consider the meaning in our own culture, we may
misinterpret another's interaction with us.
I remember when a friend and I visited a farm in Winters a few years
ago. As we stepped out into the night, I remarked how wonderful it was
to see the stars and smell the clean, earthly air. I felt safe and invigorated.
My friend, on the other hand, responded that she felt nervous and afraid.
She grew up in the city, where the bright lights and presence of people
made her feel safe. The quiet and dark of the country was more threatening.
I found it difficult to believe anyone would feel safer in a city than
in the country, since I grew up on a Wisconsin farm. It was a true lesson
in how our experiences shape our perceptions.
This issue of perspective taking also surfaced in the recent campus turmoil
over the Aggie cartoon depicting the bombing of Hart Hall. While the
cartoonist argued that he was illustrating how the ethnic studies programs
weren't important to our administration, other campus members saw the
cartoon as promoting ethnic cleansing and jeopardizing the safety of
those in Hart Hall. The cartoonist didn't foresee how others might interpret
his cartoon, and those offended by the cartoon were outraged that he
missed this important view. Regardless of its intended message, the cartoon
prompted various reactions and caused harm to some campus members.
It isn't always easy to step outside of what is familiar to us. Those
of us who are able-bodied don't easily recognize the challenges that
wheel chair users encounter daily. We think of our own perspectives are
natural or "right," and as a result, we don't readily see those of others.
In a multicultural community, however, it is essential we engage in learning
about each other to understand the viewing points we each bring to the
campus. By considering each unique perspective, the result of our work
together will be a more complete picture of how to solve mutual problems.
For example, in a recent seminar I attended, a psychologist, a sociologist
and a political scientist collaborated to address the issue of hate crimes.
This multidisciplinary approach will ultimately lead to a better understanding
of the issue and the potential solutions.
In essence, by considering another's point of view, we are respecting
that individual. Imagine the possibilities if we could respect each other
enough to, as Gandhi said, "seek first to understand and then to be understood."