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The things you do and the practices you were taught inform who
you become. Culture is a broad term that encompasses beliefs,
values, norms, behaviors, and overall can be understood as our
“way of being.” When you go out into the world, you will come
into contact with people from different backgrounds and walks
of life. It’s a good rule of thumb to honor cultural diversity with
your actions. So, what is cultural diversity and why does it
matter?
Let’s get into the details of how cultural diversity can take shape
in professional settings, within educational institutions, and
overall, in most aspects of life.
quân
Cultural Diversity – Defined
Cultural diversity is synonymous with multiculturalism.
Multiculturalism is defined by the Encyclopedia Britannica as,
“the view that cultures, races, and ethnicities, particularly those
of minority groups, deserve special acknowledgment of their
differences within a dominant political culture.”
The importance of cultural diversity can be interpreted on the
basis of these related actions:
Recognizing that there is a large amount of cultures that
exist
Respecting each other’s differences
Acknowledging that all cultural expressions are valid
Valuing what cultures have to bring to the table
Empowering diverse groups to contribute
Celebrating differences, not just tolerating them
So, what are some examples of cultural diversity?
Cultural diversity looks like this:
In A Workplace: Having a multilingual team, having a
diverse range of ages working together, having policies that
are vocally against discrimination, etc.
In A School Setting: Having students from all over the
world (like at the University of the People), being accepting
of all religious practices and traditions that students part take
in, supporting students to share their cultures with one
another, etc.
Quyết
The Importance Of Cultural Diversity In Education
Cultural diversity is important in every setting in life, but it can
be even more pivotal when it happens within education.
Students around the world have the right to equal access of
quality education, and as such, there are many upsides that come
along with it when institutions believe in the power of diversity.
Cultural diversity in education helps to support:
1. Deep Learning
Learning happens within the curriculum and outside of it. With a
diverse student population, students have the privilege of
gaining more understanding about people and backgrounds from
all over. This also contributes to diversity of thought and
perspectives that make learning more interesting and dynamic.
2. Confidence And Growth
When students participate with people from varied cultures, it
provides them with more confidence in dealing with things
outside of their comfort zones. It can build strength of character,
pride, and confidence.
3. Preparation For The Future
If a workplace has done the necessary work, it’s bound to be
culturally diverse. Attending a culturally diverse institute of
education will prepare students for their future in a workplace.
4. More Empathy
Interacting with people who have diverse practices, beliefs, life
experiences, and culture promotes empathy. While you can
never fully understand someone’s life without being them, you
can learn, listen, and understand.
Hà phương
Benefits Of Cultural Diversity
The world is naturally multicultural. Approaching cultural
diversity with a mindset and actions that embrace this fact leads
to many benefits, like:
Compassion: Communication and understanding of
differences leads to increased compassion instead of
judgment.
Innovation: Varied perspectives and lens of looking at the
world lend to innovative thinking.
Productivity: People who come together and bring their
own style of working together tend to support a more
productive team.
New Opportunities: The diversity opens the door to new
opportunities and the blending of ideas which would
otherwise have been homogeneous.
Problem-Solving: Challenges are layered, so having
people with different backgrounds can lead to better
problem-solving with richness of opinions.
Thịnh
How To Support Cultural Diversity
Individuals and institutions alike have the agency to support
cultural diversity. If you’re unsure how you can take action to do
so, consider these ideas:
Interact with people outside of your culture
Be open-minded to listen and let go of judgment
If you see anyone who is being culturally insensitive, speak
out against it
Accept that differences are beneficial and not harmful
Don’t force your beliefs on people with opposing views
Advocate to hire people or work with people who are not
within your same culture
Travel the world as much as you can to take part in cultures
and understand them from the source
Read literature and learn from different cultures
Absorb media and art from around the world
Learn a new language and communicate in a friend’s native
language rather than your own
