LGBTIQQ, Culture, Diversity and COVID-19 on World Day of Cultural Diversity For Dialogue and Development

LGBTIQQ, Culture, Diversity and COVID-19 on World Day of Cultural Diversity For Dialogue and Development

Culture is a tool which many different persons can employ to improve their health or quality of life. There is a connection between culture, diversity and how we all can engage in health promotion whether one identifies as Straight or Gay. Culture is an umbrella term which encompasses the social behaviour and norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, customs, capabilities, and habits of the individuals in these groups. Whether you identify as LGBTIQQ or Straight culture is an enabler and a catalyst you need to tap into to engage in health promotion, quality life and prevention against COVID-19.

She shouted on top of her voice:

“These ones are allowed to make hair and those ones are not supposed to plait hair. These ones are supposed to wear make-up and those ones are not supposed to. These ones are supposed to kneel down when talked to, yet those ones can be excused.”

He shouted at the top of his voice:

“I am a male and I shall marry many wives to give me many children.”

The boy preparing meals at home:

“Boys prepare food and can kneel down, all the way down.”

Girls playing soccer and basketball:

“Yes girls play soccer and basketball.”

Significance of this skit:

It shows that today we are seeing more and more people seeking self-determination by breaking barriers and norms or breaking away from stereotypes, prejudice, ignorance and mistreatment.

Traditions have passed down practices through story-telling. We want to use cultural tools to promote health and ensure quality life. There were days when certain practices were reserved for males and others for females. There were days when we gave up local or traditional practices to embrace the practices of other cultures which we thought were novel and vogue. Now we are questioning such decisions. It is possible to use green banana leaves to wash one’s hands. Yes, banana leaf sap can act as sanitiser against COVID-19. Basil plants can be used for healing stomach pains as well as spices. This is knowledge that is passed down to different generations. It is not laughable and dismissible nor backward. In fact, banana leaf sap is a sanitiser. 

Today, we are seeing experiences where we embrace local and exotic social behaviour, norms, knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, customs, capabilities and habits. Culture is a larger tool box in which are different tools. These tools are: behaviour, norms, knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, customs, capabilities and habits. They can be used by any given population groups to promote health, development and quality life.  The knowledge one has can be used for promoting health, so is the capability one has. So, get up and do something. Don’t just sit by.  Yes you can. It takes culture to renew or rejuvenate culture.