Different Dimensions of Diversity

The issue of diversity has always raised debates. Diversity means different things to different people. In a study of 180 Spanish corporate managers, explored perceptions of diversity and found that depending on who is answering, diversity usually means one of three things: demographic diversity (our gender, race, sexual orientation, and so on), experiential diversity (our affinities, hobbies, and abilities), and cognitive diversity (how we approach problems and think about things).

All three types shape identity — or rather, identities (Aragón, 2018). The Diversity Wheel demonstrates the different dimensions of diversity.

The center of the wheel represents internal dimensions that are usually most permanent or visible. The outside of the wheel represents dimensions that are acquired and change over the course of a lifetime. The combinations of all of these dimensions influence our values, beliefs, behaviors, experiences and expectations and make us all unique as individuals (Andes, 2013). Some challenges that make it difficult to implement diversity include lack of respect for others, ethnic and cultural differences, gender inequality and language and communication to name a few.

Respect for others includes respect for their ethnic and cultural backgrounds. If you put aside any prejudices or biases you might have and you are open to other people, it can help prepare you to listen, talk and learn about other people and their cultures. By learning about people of different cultural backgrounds, we can increase our horizons, have better interpersonal dialogue and communicate more on a personal level (Shah, 2017). Lack of respect for others and their culture leads to Racism which makes it harder to implement diversity.

Racial and ethnic inequalities loom large in American society. People of color face structural barriers when it comes to securing quality housing, healthcare, employment, and education. Racial disparities also permeate the criminal justice system in the United States and undermine its effectiveness (“Structural Racism in America”, 2017) Gender equality has not always existed in the United States In fact there has been evidence and studies to prove that gender inquality does exist.

In the past, women were paid less than men, but the Equal Pay Act has changed that. In recent years, there has been an influx of women in the workplace. Employers need to prevent gender discrimination and maintain equality regarding hiring, salary, opportunities, and promotions. If this is not achieved then there will be gender inequality seen in the workplace (Hood, 2017). We communicate through language. Language always carries meanings and references beyond itself: The meanings of a particular language represent the culture of a particular social group. To interact with a language means to do so with the culture which is its reference point. We could not understand a culture without having direct access to its language because of their intimate connection (“Blurring the Line between Language and Culture”, n.d.). When someone speaks a language different from our own it leads to a lack of communication. This can be a barrier in diversity.

References

1. Ades, E. (2013, September 24). Diversity Wheel. Retrieved April 06, 2019, from http://web.jhu.edu/dlc/resources/diversity_wheel/index.html
2. Aragón, C. D. (2018, May 24). The 3 Types of Diversity That Shape Our Identities. Retrieved April 06, 2019, from https://hbr.org/2018/05/the-3-types-of-diversity-that-shape-our-identities
3. Blurring the Line between Language and Culture. (n.d.). Retrieved April 06, 2019, from https://www.languagemagazine.com/blurring-the-line-between-language-and-culture/
4. Hood, A. (2017, July 14). 7 Biggest Diversity Issues in The Workplace. Retrieved April 06, 2019, from https://www.thiswayglobal.com/diversity/top-diversity-issues-in-the-workplace/
5. Shah, A. (2017, February 01). Cultural diversity: Why we should respect other cultures . Retrieved April 06, 2019, from https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2017/02/01/respecting-cultures-makes-american-american
6. Structural Racism in America. (2017, August 17). Retrieved April 06, 2019, from https://www.urban.org/features/structural-racism-america

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