Diversity, in short, is the inclusion of that which is different. In the United States, we see lots of it. It may not be as inclusive or as blended as one would like, but it does exist here. We have a biracial president, with a cabinet made up of more than one race and gender, that serve people of all backgrounds and religions. That is Diversity.
People often misconstrue different things being in the same setting as diversity, but I find that wrong. I feel like diversity has more to do with the fluidity and connection with things that are different. We see attempts at diversity all the time in our country. From the LGBT community and their choice to stand together to fight for their inclusion in all things American. Another example would be those who are formally known as black lives matter, or simply individuals who want the killing of black people at the hands of police and want some type of unity between police–racist police or those who just don’t care, and black people.
I could go on about other elements of diversity– feminism and the glass ceiling, people seeking inclusion despite their religious beliefs and so on. According to Hofstede, there are six cultural dimensions to diversity all of which can be identified in the diversity examples I mentioned above. I have yet to hear too many arguments about the negative repercussions of diversity, and I think the concept needs to be embraced more. There are many benefits to diversity that we experience everyday and fail to acknowledge it. This apathy or blindness to the goodness of diversity could, in my opinion, be detrimental to the expansion of things being more diverse and could probably move us backwards.
Growing up, all my friends were different races, their parents cooked all different foods, and I learned many different things about their culture. When I look around my city I see buildings constructed by people in Asia, made by men in America and occupied by people who worked hard and brought their international businesses here and supplied jobs to different citizens. We import from China and supply people with jobs over seas to maximize our profits allow us to further service all the different people that live under the (tainted) yet protective vail of the American flag.Diversity is differences, together. Our country wouldn’t be as great as it is without it.
Hofstede, G. & Hofstede, G. J. (n.d.). Dimensions of national cultures. Retrieved from http://www.geerthofstede.com/dimensions-of-national-cultures
Moran, R. T., Moran, S. V., & Abramson, N. R. (2001). Managing Cultural Differences.
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