Discussion: What is Diversity?

Introduction: Diversity

from Encyclopedia of Diversity and Social Justice

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The word diversity derives from the Latin root diversus, meaning “various.” Thus, human diversity refers to the variety of

differences that exist among people who comprise humanity (the human species). The relationship between humanity and human

diversity may be viewed as similar to the relationship between sunlight and the spectrum of colors. Similar to how sunlight passing

through a prism is dispersed into the variety of colors that comprise the visual spectrum, the human species spanning planet

Earth is dispersed into the variety of groups that comprise the human spectrum (humanity). Human diversity expresses itself in a

multiplicity of ways, including differences in external features, national origins, cultural backgrounds, and sexual orientations. Some

of these dimensions of diversity are obvious; others are subtle, and some are invisible.

Equal rights and social justice are key aspects of diversity; however, they are not the only aspects. In fact, in a national survey of

American voters, the vast majority of respondents agreed that diversity is more than just political correctness (National Survey of

Voters, 1998). While diversity may still be viewed narrowly by some people as strictly a “political” issue, we take a broader view

of diversity that includes the political issue of equal rights and social justice, but also considers diversity to be an essential

educational issue—an integral element that enriches the learning, personal development, and career success of all students.

While humans may display diversity in the color or tone of their outer layer of skin, the reality is that all members of the human

species are remarkably similar at an underlying biological level. More than 98 percent of the genes that make up humans from

different racial groups are exactly the same (Bridgeman, 2003; Molnar, 1991). This large amount of genetic overlap among humans

accounts for the many similarities that exist among us regardless of what differences in color appear at the surface of our skin.

For example, all of us have similar external features that give us a “human” appearance and clearly distinguish us from other animal

species; all humans have internal organs that are similar in structure and function; and whatever the color of our outer layer of skin,

when it 's cut, we all bleed in the same color.

Although humans have been classif ied into different cultural groups, all of these groups are still cultivated from the same soil—

they are all grounded in the common experience of being human. Thus, cultural diversity represents variations on the common

theme of humanity. Human variety and human similarity coexist and complement each other. To appreciate human diversity is to

appreciate both differences and similarities (Public Service Enterprise Group, 2009). It includes appreciating the unique

perspectives of different groups of people as well as the universal aspects of the human experience that are common to all

groups—whatever their particular cultural backgrounds may be. For example, despite our racial and cultural differences, all of us

experience and express the same human emotions with the same facial expressions. Understanding these similarities opens up

opportunities for creating a more enlightened self and lifelong learning. Thus:

Diversity enhances self-awareness. Learning from people whose backgrounds and experiences are diverse sharpens

your self-knowledge and self-insight by allowing you to compare and contrast your life experiences with others whose life

experiences differ sharply from your own.

Diversity stimulates social development. Interacting with people from a variety of groups widens your social circle,

expanding the pool of people with whom you interact and strengthening your ability to relate to people with different

experiences and interests.

Diversity enriches the multiple perspectives developed by a college education. Diversity magnif ies the power of a

college education, liberating you from the tunnel vision of an ethnocentric and egocentric (self-centered) viewpoint, while

enabling you to move beyond yourself to gain a panoramic perspective of the world around you and attain a more holistic

view of yourself . You acquire the ability to see how you, as a whole person, f it into the “big picture”—the whole world.

Diversity deepens learning and elevates thinking. Human knowledge is socially constructed—it is built up through

interpersonal interaction and dialogue with others. Widening the variety of conversations you have with others deepens your

learning and elevates the quality of your thinking. If you have multiple conversations with humans from a rich diversity of

backgrounds, the nature of your thinking becomes richer and more nuanced as well. Research consistently shows that we

learn more from people who differ from us than we do from people who are similar to us.

Diversity stimulates creative thinking. Experiencing diversity increases your exposure to a wider variety of thinking

styles, which empowers you to think outside the box or boundaries of a single cultural framework. Once you acquire diverse

perspectives, these viewpoints can also be combined or rearranged in ways that lead to unique or innovative solutions to

problems. When you draw on ideas from people of diverse backgrounds and bounce your ideas off them, you generate

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mental energy, synergy, and serendipity—an unanticipated discovery of creative insights.

Diversity enhances career preparation and career success. Learning about and from diversity better prepares you for

today's work world. America's workforce is now more diverse than at any other time in the nation's history, and it will grow

increasingly diverse. Moreover, work today takes place in a global economy characterized by greater economic

interdependence among nations, more international trading (imports/exports), more multinational corporations, more

international travel, and almost instantaneous worldwide communication. As a result of these trends, employers of college

graduates are now seeking job candidates who possess international knowledge, foreign language skills, sensitivity to human

differences, and the ability to relate to people from different cultural backgrounds. Both employers and the American public

agree that diversity education is career preparation.

In short, the case for experiencing diversity is clear and compelling. The benefits of diversity include not only the noble and global

goals of social justice, national stability, and international harmony but also include a host of educational, vocational, and personal

benefits for anyone who intentionally seeks out and capitalizes on the power of diversity.

References

Bridgeman, B. (2003). Psychology and evolution: The origins of mind. SAGE Publications Thousand Oaks CA.

Molnar, S. (1991). Human variation: Races, types, and ethnic groups (3rd ed.). Prentice-Hall Englewood Clif fs NJ.

National Survey of Voters. (1998). National survey of voters. Ford Foundation Campus Diversity Initiative Public Information

Project. Ford Foundation New York. Retrieved from

http://www.diversityweb.org/research_and_trends/research_evaluation_impact/campus_community_connections/national_poll.cfm.

Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG). (2009). Diversity. Retrieved from

www.pseg.com/info/environment/sustainability/2009/…/diversity.jsp.

Thompson, A.; Cuseo, J. B. (2009). Diversity & the college experience. Kendall Hunt Dubuque IA.

Thompson, A.; Cuseo, J. B. (2012). Infusing diversity and cultural competence into teacher education. Kendall Hunt Dubuque IA.

Aaron Thompson, PhD

Authors of Diversity and the College Experience, Humanity, Diversity and the Liberal Arts, and Infusing Diversity and Cultural

Competence into Teacher Education

Joe Cusseo, PhD

Authors of Diversity and the College Experience, Humanity, Diversity and the Liberal Arts, and Infusing Diversity and Cultural

Competence into Teacher Education

Copyright © 2014 by Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

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APA Thompson, A., & Cusseo, J. (2014). Introduction: Diversity. In S. Thompson (Ed.), Encyclopedia of diversity and social justice.

Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlef ield Publishers. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.snhu.edu/login?

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Chicago Thompson, Aaron, and Joe Cusseo. "Introduction: Diversity." In Encyclopedia of Diversity and Social Justice, edited by Sherwood

Thompson. Rowman & Littlef ield Publishers, 2014. http://ezproxy.snhu.edu/login?

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Harvard Thompson, A. and Cusseo, J. (2014). Introduction: Diversity. In S. Thompson (Ed.), Encyclopedia of diversity and social justice.

[Online]. Lanham: Rowman & Littlef ield Publishers. Available from: http://ezproxy.snhu.edu/login?

url=https://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/rowmandasj/introduction_diversity/0?institutionId=943 [Accessed 2 July

2019].

MLA Thompson, Aaron, and Joe Cusseo. "Introduction: Diversity." Encyclopedia of Diversity and Social Justice, edited by Sherwood

Thompson, Rowman & Littlef ield Publishers, 1st edition, 2014. Credo Reference, http://ezproxy.snhu.edu/login?

url=https://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/rowmandasj/introduction_diversity/0?institutionId=943. Accessed 02 Jul.

2019.

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