Decide Project: Positionality And Other's Styles Of Communication

The clear stance of being aware of positionality, or where one stands in society, is not an ability that one is born with. Positionality is something human beings will eventually come to learn through growth and experience. Noteworthy, is the idea that positionalities and standpoints change from culture to culture due to a wide variety of norms regarding gender, age, socioeconomic status, religious beliefs, etc. As people come to understand their standpoint and their positionality, it is easier for them to understand how one’s position in society influences how and why they communicate with others the way they do. A better understanding also affects the ways in which this influence can be changed to better interact with those of other cultures,

The best realization is that learning other’s styles of communication is a continual process that takes time. Speaking of the ‘Decide Project,’ Sally Duesing says, “it takes a lot of time. You can’t rush Decide and claim to have substantial or meaningful dialogue… it might be possible, but I haven’t seen it done,” (Ludovisi, 2010, p. 1). Along with the cruciality of taking time to learn styles of communication, it is also important to understand that attitude and standpoint differentiate from one another. This desire to change is an internal one and requires a change in attitude. It does not require a necessary change in standpoint, which is considered to be external. Houtlosser explains, “attitudes involve a disposition to act in a certain way and standpoints do not per se,” (1998, p. 391-92). The process of change must include having a desire to inquire about the other’s point of view and learning how to either agree to disagree or come to an agreement in the

Reflection is described as being, “the capacity to learn from introspection, to observe oneself in relation to others, and to alter one’s perspectives and actions,” (Sorrell, 2013, p. 19). When reflection takes flight, there is an opportunity to perform actions that will work “to make a difference in the world-to create a more socially just, equitable, and peaceful world,” (Sorrell, 2013 p. 19). The process of reflecting and taking action, to become better at understanding others and their standpoints, has both positive and negative impacts.
Some clearly positive impacts include understanding a person better, being able to use different communication styles in order to communicate with those of other cultures, and the ability to integrate intercultural praxis or “a process of critical, reflective thinking and acting that enables us to navigate the complex and challenging intercultural spaces we inhabit interpersonally, communally, and globally,” (Sorrell, 2013, p. 15). These abilities are incredibly crucial in a world where intercultural communication is happening daily in environments such as work, school,