The challenges of diversity have been the subject of an ongoing and
often heated debate, among scientists, politicians and the public.
Diverse social contexts offer opportunities such as cross-group
friendships. However, diversity also brings challenges, such an initial
culture shock and adaptation phase, or persistent prejudice and
discrimination leading to poor intergroup relations and health
inequities. This talk focuses on how society deals with social and
cultural diversity in two contexts, education and healthcare.
Michèle Birtel
University of Greenwich (UK)
How can we tackle discrimination and promote the health of
stigmatised groups?
Diversity is often heatedly debated among scientists, politicians
and the public. It brings opportunities (e.g. cross-group
friendships) but also challenges, such as initial culture shock or
persistent discrimination, leading to poor intergroup relations
and health inequities. This talk focuses on how society deals
with social and cultural diversity in two contexts, education and
healthcare. Based on Prof Birtel’s findings, it emphasizes that
greater culture-sensitive understanding is important to promote
positive intergroup relations and improve the health of people
from minority backgrounds.
Michèle Birtel is an Associate Professor of Social
Clinical Psychology and the Director of the PhD
Programmes of the School of Human Sciences at the
University of Greenwich (UK). She is also the cofounder
and lead of the cross-institutional Contact
Research Group UK. Her research focuses on the
intersection psychology (intergroup relations) and
social medicine (health inequities).
She examines how social processes influence the
relations between people
from diverse backgrounds and
thereby inequities in society
as well as in health, across the
lifespan and in different
cultures.
Brněnská laboratoř meziskupinových procesů a
Interkulturní sekce ČMPS zvou na přednášku
The Challenges of Diversity
in Education and Healthcare
31.5. ve 14:00
FF MU Arna Nováka 1, B2.34