Diversity Perspectives

I interviewed three people (one family member and two friends) to discover their definition of culture and diversity.

Person #1
Culture:  The ways a person/people live.
Diversity:  A variety of people based on ther race, ethnicity, gender, and culture.


Person #2
Culture:  The food people eat, the religion people believe in, the clothing people wear, the language people speak.
Diversity:  The different characterisitics of people (religion, race, gender, ethnicity).


Person #3
Culture:  The ways people live based on their race, ethnicity, religion, traditions, and class.
Diversity:  A mix of people that are different in their culture, race, socioeconomic status, etc.

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

The responses to my interview questions included a broad perspective of culture and diversity.  The people connected race, gender, ethnicity, gender, religion to culture and the idea that diveristy is a variety or mixture of these aspects.

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

The definitions of culture didn't include the concept of family culture or social identities.  The people I interviewed did not include the idea of family culture and the ways family have a great influence on individual cultures.  Also, the responses did not include the idea that society influences culture such as our indiviual identities and the "groups" to which we belong.    

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

Talking about culture and diversity with other people helps me to take into account the perspectives of others regarding diversity.  I think talking about culture and diversity with other people helps me to keep an ever expanding, working definition of culture and diversity.  This assignment has influenced me to continue to talk with others about culture and diversity.