This weeks assignment called for us to branch out and see what others think about culture and diversity. This assignment was particularly interesting as its always great to hear others perspective on things.
For this assignment:
• Call, write to, or talk to at least three friends, family members, acquaintances, and/or colleagues. Include at least one person who you believe is in some ways culturally different from you (a different gender, race, class, religion, abilities, age, etc.).
• Ask each person to share:
◦ Their definition of culture
Friend 1: I define culture as a person’s race and traditions they do with their family. Traditions that only they share and no one else from another race can really understand.
Friend 2: Culture is so many things. I think each person has his or her own culture. Culture is more than ethnicity to me. Culture embodies all the great things that make us individuals.
Family Member 1: Culture is a lot of things I share with my loved ones. My culture includes all the experiences I share with my children, our traditions, our heritage and our ethnicity. Culture is our family and all we represent summarized into one word.
◦ Their definition of diversity
Friend 1: Diversity is different cultures.
Friend 2: Diversity is very similar to culture…they go hand and hand. Diversity represents the various differences in each of us. The traits and characteristics that make us different.
Family Member 1: Diversity is various ethnicities and the differences that they have.
After reviewing the notes, I received some similar answers on this topic. Majority of which are quite relative to what I’ve been studying. I think everyone is on the right track but needs to elaborate a bit more. Based upon what we learned I think detailed characteristics of diversity and culture has been omitted from people’s definition of the words. I also think people are a bit afraid to elaborate on the subject for fear of hurting feelings or being viewed as insensitive. I think others need to think of culture and diversity in a less broad term.
Hi Shayla - I agree with you that people are still timid to really open up about our differences in culture. I do see with the younger generation this does not seem to be the case as much. I believe they are being desinsitized and educated about the issue at a much younger age. I hope this also makes them more open and sensitive to other cultures.
ReplyDeleteShayla,
ReplyDeleteI found that the people I spoke with related culture to ethnicity and religion. They didn't realize it is in everything we do. I noticed that some of the people you asked mentioned they get their culture from their family. Mine didn't really mention family. I also thought that people were careful in what they said. I think they were afraid they would say something insensitive.
Great post Shayla. I noticed with the people I spoke to they also mentioned religion as being part of their culture. I also saw that they mentioned family and how important family is. I have an aunt who teaches at a preschool and she told me that the children learn about other cultures and they love doing this.
ReplyDeleteYour friends and family gave some great definitions. I like what your family member said about culture, "... our family and all we represent". Families do represent who they are by what and how they do things. Your friend #2 answer to culture that "embodies all the great things that make us individuals" is a true statement. I agree with you that we still are afraid to talk about culture and diversity because we don't want to appear insensitive but I hope that at the end of this course that we all are more confident in speaking on the subject.
ReplyDeleteShayla,
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you people are afraid to tell there definitions of culture and diversty because of fear. In this class I am afraid to say some things or my thoughts because I don't want to say something that will offend anyone. For this reson many of responses are broad.
I agree with you Shayla, people do not elaborate on culture and diversity. Primarily because of the different vibes they get from people. As they always say, you can't judge a book, by just looking at the cover. We need to read into it and discuss the importance of it.
ReplyDelete