The Epistemology of Cultural Competence

Abstract

Cultural competence is a high priority in social work, but it is not conceptualized in a way that can effectively guide practice. The author proposes an organization of cultural competence strategies into epistemologically defined paradigms for multicultural practice. The paradigms discussed are based in postpositivism, constructivism, critical theory, and postmodernism. These paradigms are presented as potential tools for developing a better understanding of what constitutes effective multicultural practice and what contributes to cultural impasses. The author suggests that cultural competence should be defined by the capacity to work across multiple paradigms to find ways to engage with clients.