Perspectives on Diversity and Culture
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. 13131 Street, NW, Suite 500
Washington, DC 20005-4101
Theresa, the definitions you received from friends and colleagues were the same as what I got. The message I received from that, is that culture is what you do in your life and diversity is what makes you different form someone else. I liked you post. Great job!
ReplyDeleteHello Theresa,
ReplyDeleteI learned alot from the group of people you chose to interview about culture and diversity. Although all of your people came from different countries, they all wrote similar definitions for culture and diversity. This helped me to see that people from around the world can accept and respect each other differences and strive to live together in harmony.
I found it interesting that all of the people you interviewed had a full understanding of what all culture involves. They seemed to have the understanding of "deep culture." The three I interviewed (one being a child)seemed to have a broader understanding. I agree with Talae, they all seemed to have a great respect for cultural differences.
ReplyDeleteTheresa,
ReplyDeleteYour group surely has a great understaning of the deep culture. I do believe that it is important to have the understanding of deep culture because that is where all the most important details of culture exits. Having a better understanding of deep culture gives better hope for a peaceful world.
Theresa,
ReplyDeleteI think this exercise is so important because it pushes individuals to verbalize their perspective on culture and diversity and at the same time reflect on what they are actually sharing because many times we make comments and take actions without thinking about others. All your respondents recognized the uniqueness involved in culture and diversity and that must not only be articulated but it must be honored in all walks of life. Thanks of sharing!
I think the information that you have gathered answer the questions posed in class. I personally did not know the answer to the question, the definition that I concluded was based on other peoples suggestions and opinions. Thanks for sharing
ReplyDelete