Diversity can simply be defined as the state of being diverse, but it is just not that simple. Being diverse can be complex because every human being is diverse from one another in some way. We all are born into a family with certain values, expectations, etc. that start us off by being diverse from one another. On top of that, we are also diverse by what nationality, ethnicity, religion, and socioeconomic status, gender, etc. that we hold. There are many aspects of our selves that can make us diverse, and I know that many of my own aspects make me diverse. This diversity is what makes us who we are; it gives us our personal identity. For this paper, I would like to examine my diverse aspects and give a personal assessment of my heritage and …show more content…
Yes, I knew what my ethnicity and nationality were, but I never truly understood what that meant. I am mostly Greek, and growing up I knew this, but my family never really showcased any cultural aspects of this ethnicity. My family always said we were Greek/Eastern Orthodox, but we never attended church. I was never taught the Greek language, nor did I see any special values associated with Greek culture. I would say the only culturally Greek entity I came in contact with growing up was the food; I can definitely say I know what a Greek diet consists of. I am proud of my ethnicity, but growing up I wish I had learned more about the culture of it. I feel as though, if I had learned more, I would be much more proud of where I come from, not to say I’m not proud, but I just wish my family had emphasized more on Greek values and it’s culture. My ethnicity is a major component of who I am, but I also believe how I was raised impacted the way I carry myself …show more content…
My whole family lives in the same county and we all live within a 15-minute drive of each other. I grew up learning that family will always come first and that they will always be there. I cherish this value bestowed upon me and am glad I was raised on this value. I believe these values have made me a more caring and forgiving person. In addition, I would say I was given many family roles that I took on. I am the oldest of my siblings, and I took on the role of raising them since I was about 13. Both my parent’s worked late jobs and after school it would be my responsibility to care for my siblings. I would make dinner, do homework with them, bathe them, and put them to bed. In addition to this role, I also took on the role of being a homemaker per se. I cooked, cleaned, did the laundry, organized the mail, etc. I basically took on the role of being both my mother and father, because they just couldn’t 24/7. I didn’t mind, and today, I appreciate these roles I took on. I am grateful for the opportunity to grow up a little sooner than others because I know hold the values of hard work close to me. I believe these roles helped me mature into the responsible young woman I am today. Without taking on these roles I do not think I would be as knowledgeable and ready to be on my own as I am. My ethnicity, family values, and roles have all shaped how I view myself, but also how I view the
The real definition of diversity includes different elements of the identity and culture of each person. Diversity involves cultural differences, such as origins, religious or political affiliation, race, and gender, and other more profound differences, such as experiences and personality. As Banks argues in her research, the real definition involves several elements of our identity (149). Therefore, the way in which we define and conceptualize diversity affects the way in which we interact with people of others culture, race, and affiliations.
When people hear the word 'diversity', they often think in terms of black and white. I believe the true meaning of diversity is not simply about skin color, economic background or the face value of any other characteristic, rather it is the increased knowledge and sensitivity gained from unique experiences. The strength of diversity then comes from having many points of view and trying to reconcile them by finding common truths or resolving differences amongst people. Being a person of mixed heritage, my father is black and my mother is white, has definitely affected my life and contributed to the development of qualities that enhance my ability to embrace the uniqueness of those around me. Being raised in a single parent household and the values passed on to me by my mother have also been strong influences in my life. My greatest contribution to my community is the ability to create relationships between people of diverse backgrounds and a desire to understand others' beliefs.
Diversity. ‘Diversity’ is a single, nine-letter word that perfectly encompasses the identity of the United States. Since the beginning of time, the United States offered opportunity to all of those brave enough to seize it. Consequently, over time tidal waves of immigrants came to the shores of America and brought along their own varieties of ethnicities and traditions. As a result, the United States of America continuously became referred to as a “melting pot,” due to its mix of race, religion, and culture. Whether an urban city or a small-town, every area across the United States blends together to form the foundation of our heterogeneous country, with a never-ending mix of different backgrounds. Diversity is the glue that holds us together,
Diversity means understanding that each individual is unique, while recognizing and accepting individual differences. These differences can be along the dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, physical abilities, religious beliefs and other ideologies. For this paper, I have chosen to explore the differences between ethnicity, nationality, gender, and religious beliefs by interviewing “Andy” a Romanian, agnostic, non United States Citizen male, who is studying in America.
When we talk about the different dimensions of diversity, we find that the term “biological vs. social definition”. “Biological” is defined as facts. It is obviously known that among every single person, there are going to be numerous differences for example, gender, eye color, hair color, and skin type, among numerous other differences. The “social” aspect is defined by what society allows and that fact determines
I would like to consider my cultural heritage as diverse, but this is far from reality. Over the years as I matured through my teenage years, I was exposed to different cultures by life experiences and travel. I struggled to create both a personal and cultural identity while trying to adjust to my sight loss and with the support of my family I traveled overseas to experience other cultures for the first time. My family opened up their home to a foreign exchange program in turn allowing me the opportunity to travel over to Europe at the age of 16 years old. This opportunity started the slow progression of experiences that would open my mind to others who are unlike myself, especially traveling to a strange place and feeling different in a mainstream culture. It was not until the past 5 or 6 years until I fully accepted my disability that changed my view on being different, whether it’s race, class, gender or disability. Before this time period, my own fear of being different was so intense that I thought my weakness (disability) made me inferior of not only other cultures, but also my own family members.
Schwartz, Stuart, and Craig Conley. Human Diversity: A Guide for Understanding. 14th ed. New York: McGraw-Hills Primis Custom Publishing, 2000. 3-7. Print.
We need to be aware of the diversity in the classroom. Cultural diversity includes: bi-racial, adoptive, immigrant, gay, and step-families. It is a large majority of the students today even in my generation. Focusing on making a balanced curriculum that exposes the students to all of these different backgrounds is very important. I know that it is likely that a teacher will not be able to cater to every student, but it is important to involve each of them. There is a large percentage of students that have dropped out due to the lack of having a connection with the curriculum. It is frustrating that we are lacking progress in our schools to help these children connect when studies show that each cultural group will soon be equal in numbers. We need to form a better
Traditionally, diversity refers to an assortment of races, ethnicities, genders, ages, disabilities and perhaps sexual orientations. A definition of diversity, however, should not be constrained by traditional categories such as these. Such a definition should also include categories such as religion, educational level, life experience, geographic location, socio-economic background, marital status and work experience. Indeed, each person employed by a company possesses unique qualities that encompass many factors.
My culture identity, as I know it as is African American. My culture can be seen in food, literature, religion, language, the community, family structure, the individual, music, dance, art, and could be summed up as the symbolic level. Symbolic, because faith plays a major role in our daily lives through song, prayer, praise and worship. When I’m happy I rely on my faith, same as when I’m sad, for I know things will get better as they have before.
Diversity and inclusion should also apply to humans; by bringing people together who are different, it can create a whole that is enhanced by the uniqueness of each individual. What are the dimensions of cultural diversity? In this week’s readings, the subject of dimensions of cultural diversity were covered comprehensively in both books. Understanding and Managing Diversity presented a nicely laid out illustration. Primary Dimensions Secondary Dimensions Age Geographic Location Gender Military & Work Experience.
Diversity refers to the ways in which we differ from each other. Some of these differences may be visib...
Diversity in our community has been an impactful area of study because it describes differences in ethnicity, racial, geographic and professional backgrounds. I believe that diversity helps strengthen our community because it allows cooperation of members to make a positive difference. I have always taken the initiative towards appreciation of multiculturalism within the community, so all members learn to respect and value each other. My personal and professional experiences as well as my point of views act as potential candidates in valuing diversity to strengthen our community. I am passionate about studying the Doctor of Pharmacy degree because I love interacting with patients in the community.
When most people think “Diversity” they think of the most communal characteristics: such as: Age, race, gender, sexual orientation, body type, ethnicity, and a person’s
When it comes to family roles, some people have only a few and some may have a slew. I, for instance, only have two roles. These roles came to me when I was about fifteen years old, when I was just starting high school. I would consider me as the youth leader and motivator in my family. These roles allow me to interact with my family to a great extent and more importantly pay attention to my elder relatives when they have something to say. By generating a youth leader and motivator role, it makes me eager to assimilate the family history the elders in my family give me.