Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

In this week’s blog discussion we had to reach out to three friends, acquaintances colleagues and ask them their definition of culture and diversity.

 

The first person I reached out to was a friend of mine who I have known for about twelve years now. Her name is Robin her definition of culture was that she believed culture to be your upbringing and how you were raised in your family. She was raised in a Methodist church. She grew up in a very religious family who their faith was what they truly believed and what kept them together as a family. Her definition of diversity was that she believed diversity to be how we are all different and have our own each individual uniqueness.

The next person I reached out too was a colleague named Steven who I work with who is of Hispanic descent. He advised his definition of culture was the embodiment of his surroundings. He grew up in the Catholic faith. He remembers as a child how they would go to mass as a family. He believed as a child that all families did things together as one and continued this through his life. Growing up they would always have huge family meals and shared stories. There was always time for family and being together. His definition of diversity is that we are all of different races, gender, and ages.

 

The last person whom I asked was my good friend Kim who I have known for over twenty years. She defined culture as your beliefs from your upbringing. She grew up in the Baptist religion. She remembers as a child how the church was the family to them they called each other sisters and brothers and truly believed they were all related. Her definition of diversity is the variety of differences that we all are in this world.

 

In the answers received from the people whom I reached out too they all have some form of deep culture in their lives. For example when it came to religion they all expressed how their religion played a big aspect in their lives not just with the surface culture of the religion. Their extended family relationships and values. I would have to say some omissions of culture and diversity are. I do not believe there was any omission of any culture or diversity studies we have covered thus far. In gathering definitions from others about culture and diversity what they felt the definition of culture and diversity to be, I learned that we all have basically the same analysis that it’s about your family upbringing and how we are all different.