International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume VI, Issue VIII, August 2022 | ISSN 2454–6186
Geneveva Nduku Mwongela1, Dr. Elijah Macharia Ndung’u2, Dr. Maria Ntarangwe3
1Psycho-Spiritual Institute of Lux Terra Leadership Foundation, Marist International University, Nairobi, Kenya
2Lecturer, Department of counseling psychology, Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Kenya
3Lecturer, Department of counseling psychology Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Kenya
Abstract: Consecrated religious women are missionaries by nature and are meant to live in communities made up of religious women from different nationalities, ethnicities and backgrounds. This living together as a family at times may be marked by challenges and difficulties caused by their cultural diversities. The main objective of this study is to assess multicultural awareness among the consecrated religious women. The study was guided by Social Integration Theory and Salad Bowl Theory. The study adopted a convergent parallel mixed methods research approach design. The target population was 86 participants that was sampled using census method. The study employed purposive sampling, to select 5 participants for qualitative data and 81 participants for quantitative data and only 71 questionnaires validly returned. The research instruments that were used were questionnaires given to 81 participants to collect quantitative data and 5 participants purposely chosen for interview to collect qualitative data. The study revealed that awareness of multiculturalism enabled many women religious to live harmoniously with each other from diverse cultures. The study established that religious women’s exposure to diverse cultures has immensely impacted their lives mostly in a positive way. The study also revealed that most of the respondent feel obliged to respect other cultures while acknowledging the existence of many similarities between one’s culture and other cultures. The study recommends that the General and Local superiors to consider organizing workshops and seminars to enlighten the consecrated religious women more about the challenges that arise as a result of multicultural differences.
Keywords: Multiculturalism, Multicultural Awareness, Consecrated Religious Women
I. INTRODUCTION
Multiculturalism is a phenomenon that exists in the society and enhances the society. According to Josefova (2014) shared space and culture in certain locations can be used to characterize a multicultural society. It has the potential to bring about a variety of benefits, but it can also bring about issues and hazards. When people live within the society they interact and relate with each other and these relations can be positive or negative and are experienced within the society and not in isolation.