Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

As I approached this week, I wanted the answers I received to be random so I put as my status on Facebook that I needed definitions of culture and definitions of diversity. The answers I got were as different as those that gave them and yet each in its own way defined culture and diversity. What I realized through this assignment is that defining culture and diversity is not something people think a lot about. Those that answered for me were afraid there was a right or wrong answer, I explained in this particular assignment there were no right answers.

One answer I received was from my male cousin six years older than me. He defined culture as the way you were raised, the morals you have, and family stability. With this definition he brought up an interesting point. In some of the resources we have had so far, they have discussed how the family unit affects how one is perceived, but if as he put it the family is stable then why would it matter? Diversity he defined as the distinction of the way you were brought up. His definitions really made me think about how simple, yet difficult, it is to define culture and diversity.

Another answer I received was from a former colleague who I used to teach with in NC. She is roughly within a year or two of being the same age as I am. Her definition of culture is the way people around the world live from day to day and the celebrations they have. Her definition of diversity is things that make different cultures the same & different. Diversity is also the appreciation of different cultures.

How almost similar to the definitions we have heard through the panelists are these?

Finally my aunt who is in her 50s defined culture and diversity for me. Culture is the roots you came from. Example: Italian, Southern (Appalacian), African American, Irish, etc. Diversity is how adaptable you can be to situations and surroundings, etc. Example: Going from earning $50,000/yr to $30,000/yr. Going from living in a house to an apartment. Going from a large vehicle to a small vehicle. Diversity can also be various ways of doing things in different cultures. Example: In some cultures the man rules. What he says goes. Various ways people choose to worship, etc.

While we have learned in this course, or been reminded if we already knew, that culture is more than just the roots you came from, it’s my aunt’s definition. On the other hand, I like how she defined diversity as being adaptable.

All in all I think this week was productive, I gained insight into how those around me define culture and diversity. Without this assignment I do not know if I would have ever asked others in my life how they defined culture and diversity.