Perspectives on Diversity and Culture


     Derman-Sparks and Edwards (2010, p.55) states,"culture refers to how particular groups of people live." Culture can include aspects such as beliefs, values, traditions and language. However, culture can have a variety of meanings. When I asked a few friends (ranging in age, gender, ethnicity and race) their thoughts about what culture meant to them, the general answer was a group of people or community who share the same beliefs, values and traditions. One person expressed that culture is "unique characteristics of how a family or person lives their lives. Culture could also include how the group expresses themselves through art, dance or the way they dress." Another person asked what type of culture was I asking about- family culture or work culture? My response was "either/or or even both." My last friend described culture as "thoughts and beliefs, as well as traditions, that she shares with her family and others of the same ethnicity." 

Just like culture can have a variety of meanings, so can diversity. It's in the word- diverse.  Diversity is a range of characteristics individuals possess such as race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, etc. Although each of the people thought that diversity means various or different aspects between people, they all had thought of other aspects besides these typical characteristics. The first person said, "it can be attached to the way they look, their background, experiences, blood type, height, weight, etc. It doesn't necessarily have to describe a person's ethnicity." My next friend believes diversity can include personality types and/or characteristics. The third person not only thought of diversity in the sense of race or ethnicity, but also can include types of food one eats, their thoughts or opinions, languages people speak.

When considering other people's definitions of culture and diversity, it reiterated how people are different yet still have many similarities. Each of my friends gave different aspects that can be incorporated into what diversity and culture are that I hadn't thought of and/or would not have considered. I appreciate and respect other's opinion regardless if they are the same or differ from my own. That's what makes all of us the unique individuals we are.

Reference:

Derman-Sparks, L. & Edwards, J. O. (2010). Anti-bias education for young children and ourselves. 
     Washinton, DC: National Association for the Education of Young Children.


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