Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

Renee - Fellow co-worker, mother, Canadian, Mormon, white female, 55 years old.

Culture is the way a group of people live their lives. Whats important to them are their traditions, holidays and their family structure.  

Diversity is the differences in language, in culture, in race, in religion, in their socio economic way of life. 

Amber- My friend a surgical tech, lutheran, American, white female, 28 years old.

Cultures is peoples beliefs and the knowledge that they learn from their family and friends. 

Diversity is being well rounded. Willing to learn about other cultures but still have your own beliefs. 

Kenzie- Sister, doctor, lutheran, American, white female, 23 years old.

Culture is a group of people’s way of life. Its the beliefs, values, customs, attitudes, religion and possessions that is acquired over the course of generations and passed down through imitations and communications. Culture can distinguish one group or category from one group of people to the next. 

Diversity is understanding, accepting and respecting the fact the each individual is different and unique. These differences could include gender, race, religion, sexual orientations, economic status, political beliefs and other ideologies. The concept of diversity means to embrace the differences and to enjoy the uniqueness of the world. 

These are the three people that I interviewed. There are some answers that are similar to what I have learned in class and some are different. Some examples of similarity are that Kenzie and Renee talked about culture being a persons way of life. Kenzie and Amber talked about how culture is passed down through family. Kenzie and Renee talk about diversity being about race, religion, and so on, and Amber adds being well rounded. I feel that those are things that I have learned about in class, but those are all surface culture things. 

Some things that have been omitted is the deep culture understanding. Kenzie brief talked about attitude, and that is a part of deep culture, but they left out how their raise their children or how they talk, how they interact with other people. Those are some of the things they left out. They are all important to culture and to diversity. 

When I listened to their definitions on culture and diversity I feel that, We all have an understanding of each of them, but it just touches the surface. Like them before this class those would have been my definitions. I know now that there is more to both of them and as a person and an educator I feel that it is my responsibility to know more and have a better understanding of culture and diversity.