EDUC6164 WK3: Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

I spoke with five different people about their definitions of culture and diversity.  The first is a male, twenty-one who works in the early childhood field; a male in his mid-twenties; a female in her mid-fifties; a female who is forty-nine and works in the field of early childhood; and a male who is fifty.

The twenty-one year old male, working in the field of early childhood:

Culture:  an individual or groups common defining traditions, locations, and beliefs

Diversity:  group of different characteristics

The male in his mid-twenties:

Culture:  acts of using aesthetic mediums to examine intelligence

Diversity:  a common grouping of different types of people

The female in her mid-fifties:

            Culture:  way of life for a group of people

            Diversity:  ability to change as needed

Forty-nine year old female who works in the field of early childhood:

            Culture: something you are born into; raised to believe, do; your actions, environment,

            and family.  Our experiences can change our culture.

            Diversity:  differences between people

Fifty year old male:

            Culture:  things you learn from the way you are brought up, the people you are around

            Diversity:  be open to all different types, things, and points of view

The aspects of culture that have been studied in this course many of the people touched upon:  they seemed to have a basic understanding that it is part of how we are raised, our families traditions, beliefs, and experiences all have a part in forming our culture.  I was surprised that none of them really used the surface examples of food, traditions, or holidays from the text (Derman-Sparks, & Edwards, 2010) in their answer.  I was very surprised by the answer from the male in his twenties and would like to discuss this further to get more insight at another time.

Each seemed to agree that different or differences was relevant in their definitions of diversity other than the female in her mid-fifties referred to the ability to change as needed. 

One very important aspect that we have been studying in depth is the impact that having one’s culture valued and respected and the impact of having it looked down upon or eliminated from one’s life and surroundings can have upon the healthy development of an individual.

When hearing each of the responses I think that my view of how we often do not look deep enough into many of the aspects of a person that has such a profound impact upon what makes each of us who we are holds true with many people.  Each of the people I spoke with seemed to have a respectful attitude about other cultures, but seemed unaware of how much it impacts each of us as individuals.  None spoke of any negative experiences involving culture or diversity and this may well account for how they responded and the fact that it was not a subject that they had put excessive thought into. 

Each was concerned if they gave me the correct definition.  My response to them was that the purpose was to hear how they viewed each topic.  There was no right or wrong answers to either for this exercise.  I feel that one’s culture is a very personal aspect of what makes us each unique and individual in how we think, our beliefs, and how we react and experience things.

Reference

Derman-Sparks, L., & Edwards, J. (2010). Anti-bias education for the young children and ourselves. Washington DC: National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).