Perspectives on Culture and Diversity

This week, to coincide with my in-depth study of culture and diversity for my class, I chose to ask a few other people I know what they consider culture and diversity to be.  A basic surface description of the three people I chose to interview would be:

(1)  a male, mid-thirties, blue-collar, suburban, husband, father

(2)  a female, teenage, middle-class, suburban,  only child, divorced parents

(3)  a female, mid-thirties, upper class, major city metropolitan, mother, wife

These three people are similar in many ways in their own historical cultures, but have lived their lives in ways that exhibit many subtle differences when knowing them on a personal level, and are of course subject to the influences of their deep cultures.

Within all three responses was evidence that culture was something that meant something to them, yet was difficult to explain.    It was explained as a family history, the thing you grew up with and the incorporation of past and present.  Regarding diversity, my three interviewees recognized that it was an incorporation of different cultures, different ideas, and different opinions.  My older two participants also suggested that when recognizing diversity, adaptations and accommodations may need to be made to make everyone feel respected. 

What no one mentioned was that both of these concepts are those which are subject to change and always evolving.  As society changes, and our immediate environments change, so do our reactions and interpretations.  This allows for both immediate and long term changes to take place.  Additionally, many people struggle with adhering to the boundaries of several cultures all at once, and must make choices as to which one serves them best at any given moment.  This internal conflict can cause great stress for those whose multiple identities differ considerably. 

What my discussions have revealed is that definitions of the words “culture” and “diversity” are quick to roll off the tongue as if one is taking a test at school; however their meanings are complicated to define.  I think that these topics need to be discussed more openly and as a people we need to be less afraid and more willing to open our doors to understanding.  As I watched a man, just yesterday, switch check-out lines specifically due to who was standing in front of him, I felt sad.  Not only for the woman he blatantly offended, but also for the man who made a snap judgment about another human being he had never met. I began to wonder how many of these instances happen in a typical day that I never notice.  How many of them happen to me?  How many could I have made a difference in?  How many have I unintentionally participated in?  The last few weeks of intense scrutiny of culture and diversity have opened my eyes and made me realize that as I walk through my own maze of life, I need to be more aware and more active in making a positive difference so that I can be a better role model for others.