Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

This week’s assignment was very interesting! I enjoyed discussing culture and diversity with my friends and colleagues. I asked for their definitions of culture and diversity, here are their answers...

LB-“Culture is race, religion, heritage, and socioeconomic status (SES).” “Diversity means different groupings of cultures.”

NS Stated “culture is beliefs, language, religion, customs that are transmitted by society.” “Diversity is different cultures interacting or interactions of different societies.”

CQ Said “culture is religion, race, SES, also your morals and values you are raised with. So basically how race, religion, ethnicity, etc. factor into shaping not only a person but the community as well.” “Diversity, I feel is a mixture of all cultures within a setting that provides opportunity to learn and grow from. One that expands the culture you’ve been exposed to either in a negative or positive way.”

The answers I received included many of the aspects I studied in this course. Examples of deep and surface culture were given such as customs and language. NS definition of culture reflects the influences of the “dominate culture” in society. CQ’s definition of culture explained how individuals are shaped by their family culture (values you are raised with).

Thinking about others definition of culture and diversity influenced me to think about my definitions of culture and diversity. I agree with all of the answers listed above. To add to the definition of diversity; I believe diversity is awareness of your culture and the cultures of others. I believe diversity is a celebration of cultures interacting.