Cultural Competence Framework

Cultural Competency Framework
Name:
Institution:
Course:
Date:
The Zulu are a cultural grouping of people living in Kwa-Zulu Natal province of South Africa. The cultural group originates from the Nguni speaking people (White 2010). This paper seeks to outline the cultural aspects as addressed by Purnell's model of cultural competence. The paper will outline cultural aspects concerning organization of the family in the Zulu community and the roles that the individual family members play. It will also discuss the composition of members of the Zulu community and how the language barriers hinder them from achieving economic prosperity. Finally, it will discuss the bio-cultural composition of the Zulu tribe and how various aspects such as heredity and genetics relate to the worldview and the global society. Although the paper will explore how Purnell's model addresses particular issues in the Zulu culture, the paper is not exhaustive of all the constructs of Purnell's model. The paper is divided into two divisions, each section addressing a particular issue of the Zulu cultural organization as it relates to constructs of Purnell's model.
Family Roles and Organization
Head of the Household
White (2010) points out that the man acted as the head of the family in the Zulu traditional culture. He continues to say that, the man is the decision maker in the Zulu household. As the head, he is responsible for taking care of his herds of animals and the family. Men in the Zulu culture can marry several wives and will have an extensive family with several households. Women are inferior to their husbands but have the privilege of owning herds of cattle or fields. Each of the man's wives was responsible for their immediate family and would only cook for the members of their family.
Gender Roles
Thabiso (2012) explains that the roles of Husband and women in the Zulu family setting are clearly differentiated. From a tender age, the young children grow up according to the gender specifications and will only do tasks permitted to their respective genders. The young men have the responsibility of taking care of animals belonging to their parents. Thabiso argues that the men are expected to attend public meetings, deal with visitors, make all decisions concerning the properties, enter into agreements as well as owning all property including the hut, and the herds (Thabiso (2012). He continues to argue that husbands have the task of carving some utensils. The men are further expected to protect the community in case of outside attack. White (2010) in arguing about the role of girls in the Zulu culture points out that they are introduced into family chores at an early age by learning how to carry water in a gourd on her head. He continues to say that, girls are taught how to cultivate crops as well as being trained to cook some simple dishes. The girl is also tasked with taking care of her younger siblings. Finally, he points out that wiv...