Week 3-Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

I asked three different people to give me examples of culture and diversity.  I chose these three people because they all had different upbringing and their family life is unique.

Penny-A Unitarian Reverend and a mother of 3:

“Hmmmm. Off the top of my head, I think that culture is largely defined by geography and the influence of the life of our times. Being physically proximate with a group of people and sharing certain activities that could be construed as a 'cultural norm' (habits and social behaviors that are absorbed from a wide base of people) For example I would say that there is a defined "American culture" and a "French culture", a "South American" culture, etc. that extends beyond income, gender & race and is framed by commonalities that those outside the culture would recognize as belonging to that specific group of people...it could include basic human rights (freedom of speech, right to vote) or it could be something as pedestrian as food preferences (Brats in Germany, fast food in America). This is more of a collective term that embraces a large population of folks.

I think that "diversity" exists WITHIN culture and includes specific individual differences like race, gender, ethnicity, sexual preferences, tall, short, old, young, income levels, etc. All of the things that set an individual apart from another within a specific culture. Diversity could (for me) be defined as a continuum of possibilities of the human species within each culture.”

Barb- Moved around the US all around US while growing up, Peace Corp Volunteer and Graduate Student at Tulane University in the College Global Heath:

“So how I define culture and diversity...

CULTURE: I would say that culture is unique commonalities or characteristics shared by people within a population. It could be anything from art and music to language and religion, but these things tend to enrich or define a certain subset of people.

DIVERSITY: I just think of diversity as a wide range of something or an all-encompassing representation. In terms of people, I think of diversity as a group of different people from various backgrounds. This encompasses not only race (like traditionally defined) but education, socio-economic status, ethnicity, language proficiency, age, occupation, life decisions, etc.”

Alan first generation Vietnamese American and Buddhist:

“Culture to me is a set of beliefs that a certain social group or ethnic group share. Often it can be expressed through the arts, manners and even academic pursuits. Culture is an amazing thing as it can often help to define a person, to better understand their background and where they come from.

Diversity can mean variety in a number of different ways. When we talk about people and diversity, people can represent a variety different cultures, ethnicities, sexual orientation, so on and so forth. I feel it is important for people to be accepting of people's diversity.”

I thought they all had very similar answers.  I really liked what Penny said that “I think that ‘diversity’ exists within a culture and includes specific individual differences.”  I think this gave a great example of what we are studying in this course. 

I think that what is omitted the individual culture that each person has created.  From the first journal reflection on defining our own culture and how specific we got, to me their responses were more surface level. 

To me this exercise teaches me that with everyday conversation this is what a variety of different people feel about culture and diversity.  So, with this in mind some of my parents (who all come from different backgrounds) may also be thinking of diversity and culture on the surface, in regards to other peoples culture and diversity.  So… how do we dig deeper with the students and families that we work with?  We know or are in the process of discovering our own culture, now I need to move on to helping all my students and families be accepting of all backgrounds and cultures.

This past week I had a parent come to me and request a busing change for her son.  Currently, he rides the special education bus (as all my students do) she wanted to change to the big bus, but this would not of been appropriate for him.  At first she said that he could handle it, then it was her son and daughter wanted him to and come to find out she felt the bus driver was being standoffish. She also said well she is from a different country and we just don’t get along.  I was a little shocked, because what does being from a different country have to do with not getting along? I also know this bus driver and she is more than nice and patient with all of the students riding her bus.  I guess I need to figure out how I can address with the parent who is upset. Obviously, there is a misunderstanding somewhere and the fact that “from another country” was brought up could very well make this a cultural misunderstanding.  Something I will need to ponder over the weekend.