I polled a friend and three relatives regarding their personal definitions of diversity and culture. Here they are:
Culture is “they way you’re brought up”. Diversity is “difference”. –Doug, 49
Culture is “a way of life”. Diversity is “differentiating ways that people live”-Blue Sky, 15
Culture “equals lifestyle”. Diversity “equals difference”- Dany, 37
Culture “is commonalities between people that form identity, not limited to ethnicity”. Diversity is “differences within a population” –Mary, 62
Some aspects of culture and diversity that I have studied that are included in the definitions above are, relating to culture: “way of life” or “lifestyle” and “identity”; relating to diversity: “differences” and “differences within a population”.
Some items that have been omitted related to culture include the examples of age, race, ethnicity, language, socioeconomic status, abilities, class, parenting patterns and the fact that cultures exist along a spectrum.
I think that my poll participants did a great job with their definitions of diversity in that they all knew that difference is a primary concept. Blue Sky highlighted that diversity was related to the way that people live which related directly to his definition of culture. Mary unknowingly agreed with Blue Sky’s definition when she defined diversity as “differences within a population”.
This poll gave me an impression of how people define culture and diversity. I enjoyed discussing concepts with others that have been limited until now to academic discussion boards. These discussions with my family and friend have not changed my thinking about these issues.
I think your group did a great job in identifying culture and diversity. None of the people that I chose to ask mentioned race, religion, language, or economic status either. I guess that they are so common or obvious that people tend to not think of it when defining the terms. Good post!
ReplyDeleteCareyann,
ReplyDeleteYour poll was great--there was much consistency in the responses even though the ages ranged from adolescent to adulthood. I wonder if the people you polled all come from similar backgrounds (having been raised with similar views and beliefs regarding culture and diversity)? It would seem that if anyone of them came from a culture that did not value the importance of heritage that they may not have had the same answer; perhaps they would have shown more confusion about the differentiation between culture and diversity (like my polled persons did).
I enjoyed reading your post:)
CCWhite