U.S. educational institutions tend to promote mainstream, independent cultural norms, and exclude standards that reflect interdependent cultures that many underrepresented groups may be part of.

 

When institutions promote only mainstream, independent cultural norms, they inadvertently fuel inequality by creating barriers to underrepresented and marginalized students.

 

Independent norms promoted by educational institutions: Autonomy and self-expression.

 

Interdependent norms not promoted by educational institutions: community and concentration of the needs of others.

 

This is commonly referred to as the cultural mismatch theory. Click this link to take the self-construal scale if you are interested in determining your social and academic thought process.

 

The occupational adaptation (OA) model serves as a reminder to press for mastery in efforts to become acclimated in an environment taking into account the physical, social, and cultural aspects that may contribute to occupational performance.

 

For students who face challenges in the classroom and have experienced occupational challenges in the form of racism, such as microaggressions, it is important to learn positive strategies to promote their sense of belonging. 

 

To learn more about ways to combat maladaptive responses, click on the links below.