Reflection: "What are the Aims of Diversity?"

What are the Aims of Diversity?

To increase our Knowledge. This means utilizing an open minded approach when encountering situations that are unknown and new to you. This also means to use a nonjudgmental mindset when coming upon these new situations, so that you are able to take in information objectively.

To utilize Methods to both increase our knowledge about diversity, as well as be a model and teach others how to be a citizen that isn't just tolerant of others but accepting. This includes not being color blind but seeing differences for what they are, and accepting those differences as equal to everyone else's differences.

It is to have Perspective, and to think about how we all have been discriminated against and how awful that feels. To remember this as the commonality that everyone shares, and to use that common thread to instill compassion throughout people. I honestly want to believe that people aren't born to discriminate against each other and that discriminatory behaviors are taught, not natural.

It takes Vision to see how society can be changed, and to have the courage to be part of the positive evolution. Whether you have time, resources, or commitment to the cause, anyone can join the team to increase the acceptance of diversity.

What I learned from this course is that as try as we may, we cannot categorize people effectively. Thankfully that is the case because there is no reason for this! We are all multifaceted and multiracial, whether you are black, while, Native American, etc. We all come from a mix of people, our world is too old and people have been so integrated that is is unlikely anyone has a "pure" lineage (whatever that means!).

The various portions of Rosenblum's and Travis' (2012), Meaning of Difference: American Constructions of Race, Sex and Gender, Social Class, Sexual Orientation, and Disability, outlined separate groups of people that have been discriminated against over the years, with an eye to the U.S. This information is so important to pass along from generation to generation, so we learn from the mistakes of the past so we can have a healthier and happier future, that considers everyone different and equal.

Rosenblum, K. E., & Travis, T. C. (2012). The Meaning of Difference: American Constructions of Race, Sex and Gender, Social Class, Sexual Orientation, and Disability (ed.). New York, NY: McGraw Hill.