Dimensions of Diversity
Introduction to Diversity
Texas Commission on Law Enforcement
Officer Standards and Education
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Unit Goal I
• To increase awareness of the various dimensions of diversity
Every culture teaches its young
Every family shares its
knowledge
All of us are lifelong learners
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“Personal and social identity,
expressed through language
and culture, is formed by this
continuous interplay of
knowledge and learning as we
move through the different
stages of life.” UNESCO
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7 Underlying Principles of
Diversity
1. Diversity is an inside job, it is not
about them
2. Diversity goes beyond race and
gender
3. No one is the target of blame for
current or past inequalities
4. Human beings are ethnocentric
Ethnocentric: characterized by or based on
the attitude that one's own group is superior
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5. The human species resists changes,
continuing to seek homeostasis
6. Human beings find comfort and
trust in likeness
7. It is difficult for people to share
power
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Our heritage belongs to all
Our world heritage is our
shared heritage.
UNESCO
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1.1. Define the term
“diversity”
“Diversity is the term used to
describe the relative
uniqueness of each individual in
the population…the state of
being diverse.”
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Diversity is a set of conscious
practices that involve:
• Understanding and appreciating
interdependence of humanity,
cultures, and the natural
environment
• Practicing mutual respect for
qualities and experiences that are
different from our own
• Understanding that diversity includes
not only ways of being but also ways
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of knowing
Continued…
• Recognizing that personal, cultural, and
institutionalized discrimination creates
and sustains privileges for some while
creating and sustaining disadvantages
for others
• Building alliances across differences so
that we can work together to eradicate
all forms of discrimination
Iowa State University
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1.2. Discuss the term
“human diversity”
Encompasses anything that makes humans special and different
9 reported most noticed in our
society:
• Skin Color
• Gender
• Age
• Appearance
• Facial
Expression
• Eye Contact
• Movement
• Personal
Space
• Touch
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1.3. List “dimensions of diversity”
• Military
• Age
Experience
• Ethnicity
• Parental Status
• Gender
• Physical Abilities • Religious Beliefs
• Work Experience
Qualities
• Geographic
• Race
Locations
• Sexual
• Socioeconomic
orientation
Status
• Job Classification
• And the list goes on…
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1.4. Describe the three powerful
trends that highlight diversity in
twenty-first century society
Diversity became an issue with the
development of 3 powerful trends in our
society:
Trend 1: The global market in which
American corporations must now do
business became highly competitive
Trend 2: The makeup of the United States
population began changing dramatically
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Trend 3: Individuals began to celebrate
their differences instead of
compromising their uniqueness to “fit
in”
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1.4.1. Define the Global
Market Trend 1
To stay competitive in the world
market:
• Products must be designed and
marketed to meet needs of people
• People need to develop an
understanding and appreciation of
cultures
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1.4.2. Discuss the United
States changing
demographics Trend 2
Changing demographics:
• By the year 2050:
–Less than 53% of population White
–16% African American
–23% Hispanic Origin ???????
–10% Asian and Pacific Islander
–1% American Indian, Eskimo, and
Aleut
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• By the year 2056:
–People of color are expected to
become the new majority
• In addition:
–The fastest growing age group: 75
and older
–In 2008: 48% increase in workers
55 and older
–By 2025, the number of elderly will
double
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• Misc. Statistics:
–One in every 7 Americans speaks a
language other than English in their
homes
–An estimated 6% of the population is
gay/lesbian
–Persons with disabilities make up the
largest minority group: 15% of US
population
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1.5. Compare a “melting pot”
vs. a “mosaic” society Trend 3
• Changing concepts
–Traditional American approach to
diversity: assimilation
–Cultural differences homogenized
–Problem: classifies differences as
inferior
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–New Perspective of mosaic:
encouraged to be proud and
maintain cultural heritage and
uniqueness
–Multicultural: no distinct culture as
American
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1.6. Define the term
“inclusion”
“…a sense of belonging: feeling
respected, valued for who you are;
feeling a level of supportive energy
and commitment from others so
that you can do your best work.”
Miller and Katz 2002
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1.7. Discuss the concept of three
dimensions of Global Inclusion
• The Human Perspective
• The Cultural Perspective
• The Workplace Perspective
These inclusions capture the basic
attributes that make us who we are as
individuals
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The Human Perspective
• Inclusions that might be detected
visibly
• Physical or psychological in nature
• Examples: Age, ethnicity, gender,
physical abilities, race, and sexual
orientation
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The Cultural Perspective
• Inclusions that are core elements
• Define us as individuals
• Influence how we function in all
areas of our lives
• Less visible
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• Aspects of an individuals diversity
• Examples: Economic class, education,
geographic location, language, life
experience, military experience,
marital status/domestic partner,
parental status, religion, and values
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The Workplace Perspective
• Inclusion of diversity from current
and past experiences in the work
environment
• Examples: Your level of autonomy,
empowerment, decision making
authority, and functional level or
classification
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1.8. Describe the concept of
the four layers of diversity
Personality: All
aspects of
personality
Internal: Aspects
not easily changed
External: Aspects
that can be
altered
Organizational: Past
and current
experiences
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1.9. Illustrate the concept of
primary and secondary
dimensions of diversity
Primary dimensions:
• Unalterable or easy to change
• Together shape basic self-image and
fundamental view of world
• Form core of expectations of others in
personal and work life
• Filters that change and modify life’s
experiences
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Secondary dimensions:
• Important in shaping us and have
measure of control to any change
• Serve as independent influences on
self-esteem and self-definition
• Influences vary with who we are or
stage in life, and changes
experienced
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1.10. Explain “Fairness
vs. Equal Treatment”
Many people think that
fairness means treating
everyone the same. How does
treating everyone the same
work for a diverse staff?
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1.11. Summarize the past,
present, and future
dimensions of diversity
• Past
• Present
• Future
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End of Unit 1
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Unit Goal 2.0. To examine one’s
own cultural diversity and how your
identity impacts your relationships
with others
“Cultural landscapes testify to
the creative genius, social
development, and the imaginative
and spiritual vitality of humanity.
They are part of our collective
identity.”
UNESCO
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2.1. Define the term culture
Values, beliefs, and behaviors common
to a large group of people to include:
• Shared language
• Folklore
• Ideas and thinking patterns
• Communication styles
• Similar “truths” and life expectations
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The definition of culture includes:
• Body of learned beliefs, traditions,
principles, and guides for behavior that
are shared among members of a
particular group
• Culture serves as a road map for both
perceiving and interacting with the
world
• It is not inherited but instead shaped
by the social context in which we learn
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2.2. Discuss the Cultural
Perspective
• Comprised of core elements that help
define us as individuals
– Military
experience
• Examples:
– Marital
– Economic class
Status/Domestic
– Education
Partnership
– Geographic location
– Parental Status
– Language
– Religion
– Life experience
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– Values
2.3. Explain where our
“cultural programming” comes
from
• Culturally programmed by age 3
• Born into culture and
programmed in our belief system
• Acceptance without question
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Additionally:
• Culture determines our behavior and
attitudes
• No one is culture free
• Most cultural rules are never written
• We interpret other people’s behavior
through our own cultural software
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2.4. Describe your cultural “road
map” as it relates to your current
behaviors and attitudes
Culture can be defined as the body
of learned beliefs, traditions,
principles, and guides for behaviors
that are shared among members of a
particular group. Culture serves as a
“road map” for both perceiving and
interacting with the world.
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2.5. Explain stereotypes and
their role in cultural diversity
• Misinformation
• “Mental Tapes”
• “Mental File Process
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2.6. List examples of
“cultural rules”
• Each culture sets expectations or
“societal rules” for expected
behavior
• Cultural rules provide a framework for
imparting meaning
• We learn these rules as children
• By following these rules we reduce
conflict
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Many of these rules become
internalized subconsciously and enter
our day to day behavioral actions.
They become habits.
Examples:
• Ethics and habits
• Making friends or enemies
• Sense of time and punctuality
• Male/female roles and relationships
• Manners and showing respect for
others
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These cultural rules are so
ingrained that when we see someone
violating or behaving contrary to one
of these rules we interpret the
behavior as wrong.
List some examples of these rules…
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2.7. Describe the strategies in
building “cross-cultural
competencies”
• Effectiveness across national, state,
organizational, team and
interpersonal barriers
• Successful cross-cultural players
are generally flexible and possess a
broad behavioral repertoire
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2.8. Demonstrate “cultural
filters” on automatic
Cultural filters act in the following
ways:
• Automatic responses
• Refer to our “mental file” instead of
information gained from knowledge
or experience
• Reticular Activating System (RAS)
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2.9. Describe the Cultural
orientation Model
Comprised of
following
qualities:
• Environment
• Time
• Action
• Communication
• Space
• Power
• Individualism
• Competitiveness
• Structure
• Thinking
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2.10. Discuss the development
of Diversity Competence
These competencies consist of 4 areas:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Awareness
Knowledge
Skills
Action/Behavior
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Awareness…
• Recognizing differences as
diversity
• Respect benefits of differences
• Acceptance of differences
• Understand historic effect
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• Clear sense of personal culture
• Understand personal impact of
organizational culture
• Recognize similarities
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Knowledge…
• Factual information
• Identify differences
• Exposure
• Learn
• Explore
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Skills…
• Take personal responsibility
• Point of view
• Cross-cultural communication
• Problem-solving
• Conflict management
• Work effectively
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Action/Behavior…
• Teach
• Show patience
• Develop personal plan
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2.11. Solve scenario
problems on “culture clash”
Class Exercise
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2.12. Summarize how culture
relates to the dimensions of
diversity model as described in
Unit Goal I
• Better understanding
• Recognize
• Appreciation
• Point of reference
• Convey message
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TAKE A 15 MINUTE
BREAK
END
Part 1 Completed
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