Cultural Competence Framework

Cultural Competency Framework
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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 wives have the responsibility of looking after the children, carry water, brewing beer, making pots as well as taking care of crops in the field.
Goals and Priorities
White (2010), points out that for the boys growing up in the Zulu culture, training began early periods of their growth and development in order to make them warriors of the tribe. He argues that from a young age, they start learning to fight using sticks. When they are young men, they are given their own spear and initiated into regiments, which are traditionally referred to as the "amobutho". For the girls, the community expects them to be able to light a fire at an early age they are also expected to take care of their younger siblings. When the girls become women, they are married off into another household to start their own families.
Developmental Tasks
Children in the Zulu culture are expected to perform some tasks that assist in their development into the roles of responsible members of that society (Thabiso 2012). Boys are indoctrinated into the military way of life. Boys begin by fighting among themselves with sticks. He argues that at the age of sixteen, their fathers give the boys a spear to be used in military activities. At military camps military legends are taught to them and the youth are informed of past military successes. Girls on the other hand are taught on roles that will aid them in taking care of families. Society expects young Zulu girls are able to light fires as well as cook some meals. Her mother also teaches the girl at an early age on of how to carry water on special braids placed on her head.
Roles of the Aged
The old have a special place in Zulu society. The elderly members in the Zulu community are respected by the younger generation. According to Thabiso (2012), children are taught in the Zulu culture not to speak to elders and only speak when spoken to. Elder men become important decision makers in the Zulu community. Some men occupy positions of authority like tribal chiefs, headmen or members of the various houses of the royal parliament. Older women are revered in the community and live in a large hut reserved for ancestors. She has a large influence over the extended family and exerts her will on the family.
Extended ...