The belief that cultural groups have a set of essential (or fixed) characteristics which are then used to explain their ill health and lifestyles without much consideration being given to other underlying factors such as poverty, discrimination, communication barriers, the process of ageing and so on.
Sources:
Papadopoulos I (Ed): (2006): Transcultural Health and Social Care: Development of Culturally Competent Practitioners. Churchill Livingstone Elsevier. Edinburgh.
Related terms: Stereotypes |