Perspectives on Culture and Diversity

This week, I reached out to my brother, sister, husband, oldest son, and friends.  I asked them what their definitions for “culture” and “diversity” were.  These are the responses I received…

Culture

v “Culture is the norm for a group of people… the way they act, talk, interact, behave, support one another, dress, etc.  They have customs that are specific to them.  Cultures are everywhere…in a home, school, classroom. Business, church, club, organization, office, team, etc.”

v “Culture, in a global perspective, is what makes each country distinct.  It is the way of life that makes each group of people different.  In a non-global perspective, it is each of our historical backgrounds, as well as our learned traits, that create the way we live.”

v “Culture is the religion, food, way of life with different ethnicity.  Their history and background which makes them unique and their own culture.”

v “Culture is a belief system of a particular group. To me that could be as small as family interactions and traditions or larger groups such as regional groups, ethnic, or religious.  Also, the social aspect of old versus young generations. Why do we do what we do and how we go about doing things within those groups.”

v “Culture is a shared or group identity that a person associate with. Usually based on traditions, it defines boundaries for a person’s beliefs, actions, and lifestyle. A culture can also be based upon a profession, religion, or any commonality that a person identifies or wants to identify with. Sometimes used as a justification for the infringement on the beliefs of others.”

v “Cultures have mores-unwritten expectations that are deeply ingrained, formed from shared values and beliefs.  People find identity and a sense of belonging from these expectations.”

Diversity

v “Diversity means everyone is not the same in race, sex appearance, religion, likes, dislikes, beliefs, cultures, experiences, sexuality, socioeconomic status (SES), abilities, etc.  The differences are accepted, appreciated, and respected.”

v “Diversity is when many cultures are living and existing together.”

v “Diversity is different ethnic groups of people living and working together.  All have different cultural backgrounds and have their own way of lifestyle.”

v “Diversity is the differences within all of these groups.  For example, my husband and I realized how broad diversity was when we were looking for a church.  We had always been Baptist but wanted to explore.  What we found, even within the Baptist churches was that there were many points of differences within all of them.  Whether they were southern, central, etc.  Some were still traditional (white only, older traditional music only).  Some were more contemporary and seem to forget about the old parishioners, and some offered both traditional and contemporary while also encoring opportunities to work together.  To us that was where we wanted to be. Where differences are accepted and even celebrated.”

v “Diversity is broad, many faceted, diversity is the use of a bigger realm or field than a single item or concept.  To me, cultural diversity is an awareness for the beliefs and lifestyles of cultures different from your own. Does not necessitate a respect for the difference, just an acknowledgment that a difference exists.”

v “Diversity is a broad spectrum of differences within a group. The more people are exposed to diversity the more there is a chance for acceptance of different cultures, view, uniqueness, and lifestyles.”

Six different definitions from men and women ranging between the ages of twenty-two to fifty-five.  These definitions were their definitions composed based on their individual knowledge, experience, and belief.  The overall theme or definition of culture was the identity shared by a group of people based on their beliefs, region, way of life, language, et al. while diversity is the acceptance, respect, celebration of similarities and differences between individuals and cultures.  Six different individuals gave different definitions with a unified theme.  That is powerful!!