Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

The three people I asked about their perspectives on Diversity and Culture: Two females and one male. Their ages ranged from 24 to 51 years.

What is Culture?

My colleague aged (51)  from Grenada, West Indies thinks culture is everything about your life; the cooking, the washing, the cleaning, the sports, how you train your children, your traditions, how you dress, how you speak, and even your family secrets.

Person two (2) aged (24) from Africa said "Culture is who you are; your lifestyles, the way you live."

Person three (3) male aged (34) from the USA:  "Culture is everything; the food I eat, the clothes I wear, the way I dance, my religious beliefs and the way I do things."

What is Diversity?

Person 1: "Diversity is where you come from. It is me and you and everyone else."

Person 2: "Diversity is your race, your ethnic background, your cultural differences."

Person 3: "Diversity is being different from others; our cultural differences."

The aspects of culture studied and were included in the answers; culture is the way you live (Sparks, & Edwards, 2010, P. 54). Examples; the way you cook, eat, speak, religion, and dress.

The aspects of diversity studied and were included in the answers; diversity is various different people from different cultural backgrounds, different races (Sparks & Edwards, 2010). For example, race.

What they omitted were aspects of surface culture for example; the holidays, and artifacts. On the other hand, housing arrangements, historic events and health care were omitted as aspects of deep culture.

As I thought about the definitions of culture and diversity by the people mentioned above I realized that there were similiar opinions and ideas of culture  and diversity. The answers summed up a definition of culture as the way of life of groups of people and diversity as one’s race and ethnic background (Sparks, & Edwards, 2010).  It is important to remember the following concepts:

Culture is more than what we see on thesurface; for eample food.  

Culture has a wide range of characteristics including, but not limited to race, economics, gestures, and body language.

Cultural invisibility is more likely to occur when we under-cut families and children’s evolving self and social identities (Sparks, & Edwards, 2010, P. 58).

Cultural discontinuity emerged when home practices differ from the practices of the dominant culture.

Resources

Sparks, & Edwards, 2010). Anti-Bias Education for Young Children and Ourselves.
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My Family Culture

My Family Culture

As an immigrant there were many  items I would have liked to take with ME on my journey to a foreign land but, due to certain circumstances beyond my control the possibilities were slim. This blog brings back so many memories and thus it is an emotional one.

A Description of The Three Items I would Choose

First my Grenada Passport as an artifact which protrays the Grenada's Flag and the Court of Arms. The Passport is an artifact which gives us our identity as Grenadians. Then my family portrait which shows my children and how different they look even though they share same parents and finally Greanda's mucic. The music is mainly Steel Pan, Calypso and Soca.

 How would you explain waht each of thes items means to you?

 The passport would remind me of being  a true Grenadian;  reminding me that I am still part of something beautiful and cherished. The three colors of flag on the passport hold deep significance for the country and its citizens: green represents our vegetation, red stands for the burning aspiration of our people to be free from slavery and the friendliness of the people and yellow brings to mind the sunshine giving the island the local name “Island in the sun.” The flag would remind to continue to pay homage and my belongingness to my island. I want to be able to still pay homage/respect to my island.   

                        

 My family portrait would keep my memory intact of those who are so dear to my heart. It would be an amazing testament of my family history that would be treasured; The thigs we did, the way we behaved, our beliefs and values (Louise Derman-Sparks, 2011). The joys, the sorrows, the limitations and the boundaries. All in all, the love and respect we shared with and for each other with the notion that each one of us is unique and special.

The music would be in remembrance of my cultural heritage; where we came from and the freedom of our ancestors. Listening to it would change my mood from being sad to a little bit happier. I would have something to bring back the ‘home’ feelings.

Your feelings if, upon arrival, you were told that you could only keep one personal item and have to give up the other two items you brought with you

Wow! This is difficult for me even though it is only for blog reasons.  I would be devastated.  Having to give up my family photo would bring tears of sadness, however I still would be able to hold those memories in my heart. Giving up the passport is only saying well you belong here now. Nevertheless, I don’t really need a passport to go back home because it’s HOME. Finally, giving up the music that is, Steel Pan, Calypso or Soca  is saying dance to our music or don’t dance at all. WOW! If I really have to hold on to only one it would be my FAMILY PORTRAIT. This is the most significance because nothing matters more to me than having a family. Individuals who share common bonding, cultural background, and who operate in the context of FAMILY. I would have to go back to the moments. 

Any insights you gained about yourself, your family culture, diversity, and/or cultural differences in general, as a result of this exercise

In different cultures differeny groups hold on to differnt things because of their cultural background. This exercise has taught me greater awareness and respect of other cultures. We may have our different likes and dislikes, traditions, values, beliefs, norms and dispositions However, when it comes to who we are and how we perceive and make sense of each other is fundamental to all social interactions and to the construction of society and our culture (Terry, 2003).

Resources

Laureate Education (2011), “Family Cultures: Dynamic Interactions”

Terry, D. J. (2003). Social identity and diversity. Retrieved from http://apj.sagepub.com/content/41/1/25.abstract