"Culture is the acquired knowledge people use to interpret experience and generate behavior." Show
- James Spradley, Anthropologist
An understanding of culture requires an understanding not only of language differences, but also differences in knowledge, perceptions, beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors. Culture (from the Latin cultura stemming from colere, meaning "to cultivate") generally refers to patterns of human activity and the symbolic structures that give such activities significance and importance. Cultures can be "understood as systems of symbols and meanings that even their creators contest, that lack fixed boundaries, that are constantly in flux, and that interact and compete with one another." Culture can be defined as all the ways of life including arts, beliefs and institutions of a population that are passed down from generation to generation. Culture has been called "the way of life for an entire society." As such, it includes codes of manners, dress, language, religion, rituals, art. norms of behavior, such as law and morality, and systems of belief. Let's listen to the thoughts of our panelists.
return to top | previous page | next page Contributed by Aara'L Yarber, Pennsylvania State University and UCAR Diversity and Inclusion Fellow If you were to ask 20 people "What is diversity?", it is likely that you will get 20 different answers. Diversity is an evolving concept that is rarely defined in the research literature. On the most fundamental level, diversity means "difference." Diversity is a characteristic of groups, not of individuals. You can talk about a member of a diverse community but not about a diverse individual. Diversity refers to all of the ways in which people differ, including primary characteristics, such as age, race, gender, ethnicity, mental and physical abilities, and sexual orientation; and secondary characteristics, such as nationality, education, income, religion, work experience, language skills, geographic location, family status, communication style, military experience, learning style, economic background, and work style.
Defining diversity becomes the first challenge for any institution. Institutions should develop their own definition for diversity that is dependent on their specific needs for creating a representative pool of participants. The idea of diversity can be further complicated and be mistaken for terminology such as equity, multiculturalism and inclusion. Inclusion exists when traditionally marginalized individuals and groups feel a sense of belonging and are empowered to participate in majority culture as full and valued members of the community, shaping and redefining that culture in different ways. Multiculturalism acknowledges and promotes the acceptance and understanding of different cultures living together within a community. As such, multiculturalism promotes the productive coexistence of different races, ethnicities, and other cultural groups in a given social environment.
Primary and Secondary Characteristics of DiversityPrimary characteristics of diversity are usually the most visible; for example, gender, race, sexual orientation, and age, although often these may not be apparent. The visibility of primary characteristics is critical to the assumptions made by the majority society about the presumed worth of minority group members. The values and judgements assigned to these attributes by the majority group may determine whether minority group members are accepted as full participants. Secondary characteristics are defined by way of experience. Secondary characteristics, such as family status, education, income, and communication style are vital in shaping one's educational and career trajectories. Secondary characteristics account for human agency and choice, so the influence of secondary characteristics is more variable and presumably less defining, although not always, than primary characteristics. In structurally inequitable societies where access to opportunities is not equal across populations, personal choice in secondary characteristics is not always fully realized. Read more:
What Does Diversity Look Like in the Geosciences?
For more readings and discussion about diversity, equity and access in the geosciences, check out GeoReadingForEquity, an initiative by a number of graduate students, faculty and researchers across multiple institutions. Sources for Geoscience
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What type of diversity pertains to the country where the person was born and holds citizenship?nationality diversity pertains to the country where the person was born and holds citizenship.
What type of communication clearly state their needs and wants and use I statements and listen without interrupting?ASSERTIVE COMMUNICATION is a style in which individuals clearly state their opinions and feelings, and firmly advocate for their rights and needs without violating the rights of others.
What is the definition of diversity quizlet?Diversity (definition) The collective mixture of differences and similarities that includes individual characteristics, values, beliefs, experiences, backgrounds, preferences, and behaviors.
What type of communicators avoid expressing one's feelings or opinions and allows others to infringe on ones rights?Passive communication is not expressing your honest feelings, thoughts or beliefs, allowing others to violate your rights, or violating your own rights in the way you communicate with others.
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