Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

Speak with at least three friends, family members, acquaintances, and/or colleagues. Ask each person to share:

• Their definition of culture
• Their definition of diversity

When I talked to my people about these questions their answers were all very similar. 

The response to the question of what is culture was described, as what a person wore, the way that they were raised and that there are different traditions that they practiced. All three mentioned that language and dialect of the language has much to do with the culture that a person is from. Some mentioned the different foods and ways that prayer was an important part of their culture.

The response to the question of what they thought diversity was, most answered with the same answer as inclusion of all. That all should accept and respect each other for what they believe and their opinions and feedback.

From what I have studied so far in this class I can see that most people think the same way.  For example, language is a huge cultural action.  How they are raised, the parenting skills are very different and they way we eat.

I really do not see much omission in these statements. Culture and Diversity can go so deep. 

What I have learned from talking to these other people and finding out what they think about these two words, has me thinking that there is so much to learn in order to understand people and why they do things.  I know that in my class we had some differences.  We try to teach independence and let the children do things themselves.  There are several groups of families that were enabling their children.  I talked to my family advocate and she explained to me why they do it and it was part of the culture.  So we brainstormed so that we could create a balance and a win/win for all.

So talking and knowing is going to make me have a better understanding of what all involved are thinking and where they came from as not to judge or single out.