Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

I spoke to three different people to get their definitions of culture and diversity. Kennedy is 16 years old, Sharlon is a co-worker/friend that I have had for the past 12 years and Kristie is a parent of a former child I taught. Their answers are as follows.

Kennedy "Diversity is like having varieties. Like a range of different things. For example is you have a diverse varieties of apples, that means you have different kinds or types. You can have a bucket of apples but what makes them diverse is that some are granny smith, some are golden delicious and some are red delicious. Culture is who that person is and what they choose to do, such as beliefs, attire, ways of life, and food preferences. So diversity is what people see like how you can identify a group of people but their culture is what makes them, them. It isn't just the way they are seen but it's the way they live their life" (personal communication, July 18, 2017).

Sharlon "Culture to me is the distinct identity of ones roots in the historical experience of people. Culture is both distinct and enormously influential on American culture as a whole. Culture is how people were raised and pass down their beliefs, religion down from generation to generation. Diversity to me is the difference in one's race, gender, beliefs, culture and religion" (personal communication July 21, 2017).

Kristie "Culture- the beliefs, attitudes and customs of a group of people. Diversity- differences in culture, race, religion, gender, age and other physical and non-physical attributes" (personal communication July 19, 2017).

What aspects of culture and diversity that I have studied in this course are included in the answers I received- and what are some examples? 

I believe that in the answers I received, culture is defined much like what I have learned in this course. It is obviously not defined in the same vocabulary, but these definitions line up with the way that culture has been defined as who a person is, more than just the surface of clothes yet including the surface as well. Much like the iceberg metaphor used by Janet Gonzalez Mena.

What aspects have been omitted and what are some examples of such omission?

Family culture such as parenting styles have been omitted from most of the definitions. Sharlon mentioned a little bit of that in discussing how people are raised and pass down beliefs from generation to generation, but specific family dynamics are not mentioned. The other aspect that is omitted is the idea that a group of friends, a work place and/or a community can have its own unique culture.

In what ways has thinking about other people's definitions of culture and diversity influenced my own thinking about these topics? 

Thinking about other people's definitions of culture and diversity has broadened my thinking of these topics. Considering how other people define a topic, forces a person to consider their own beliefs, biases and even reconsider where their beliefs lie. I had not considered thinking outside of the box enough to use a metaphor of apples to describe diversity as Kennedy had. I had considered customs and beliefs as a part of culture but Kristie's definition made me consider the customs and beliefs that are a part of my own culture and family. Sharlon's definition made me consider how different cultures effect the American culture as a whole.

Overall, I enjoyed talking to all three ladies about this topic and gaining more insight. :)