Understanding Human Diversity
Chapter 7
1
Fall 2010
What does “diversity” mean?
2
Fall 2010
Human diversity

Refers to all humans & searches for cultural,
community, and human strengths
3
Fall 2010
Dimensions of Diversity

Culture
Race
Ethnicity
Gender
Sexual Orientation
Socioeconomic Status
Ability/Disability
Age
Locality
Spirituality & Religion

Intersectionality?









4
Fall 2010
Dimensions of Commonality & Difference

Shared Group Identity Transmitted Intergenerationally
(Race/Ethnicity—_____; Elderly—_____)

Group membership lifelong vs. Acquired
(Gender—_____; Disability—_____)

Group membership apparent
(Person of Color—_____; Gay/Lesbian—_____)

Group membership a choice
(Religious minority—_____; Elderly—_____)
5
Fall 2010
Focus on Cultural Diversity

What is culture?

Rules of the game in a particular society as
expressed in:





6
Traditions
Norms
Child-rearing practices
Folklore/Stories children are told
How institutions are organized
Fall 2010
Culture is Often Unconscious

What we do “naturally”

Only find out when you violate cultural rules


Only explain it when asked


7
Refugee kids hygene
Halloween?
Santa Claus?
Fall 2010
Race is culturally bound

“White” in U.S. vs. “White” in Brazil

Why do we use the racial categories that we do?
What is the difference between the following:







8
White
Caucasian
European-American
Anglo-Saxon
Aryan
White (non-hispanic)
Fall 2010
9
Fall 2010
Sociopolitical Perspective on Diversity:
Oppression & Liberation

Oppression: Unequal relationship used unjustly to
grant power & resources to 1 group (dominant group)
& withhold them from another (oppressed group)

Focuses on inequalities in _____________ &
_____________ power
10
Fall 2010
What kinds of resources can be granted/ withheld?

Jobs

Life Chances



Influential Networks


11
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
Fall 2010
How have you been
disadvantaged?
12
Fall 2010
How have you been
advantaged?
13
Fall 2010
Diversity & Everyday Privilege

Gender-- _____________________________________
Sexual Orientation-- ___________________________
Race-- _____________________________________

From Peggy McIntosh:




14
I cannot perform poorly without being a disgrace to my race.
I can choose blemish cover or bandages in “flesh” color and
have them more or less match my skin.
Fall 2010
Women & Pay Gap

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vs_avU7Nv0c
15
Fall 2010
Oppression

“Oppression is any relationship or process by which 1
group violates the physical, social, or psychological
integrity of another” (Franz Fanon)

“Breathing Smog” & “conventional wisdom”

Ex: Asian American as the model minority research
16
Fall 2010
How Oppression Affects Communities

Mass media

Neighborhood “tipping point”

Institutional oppression


Interpersonal oppression


Glass Ceiling in Workplaces
Voice/Gender Dynamics
Inter-group relations

17
when prejudice becomes racism
Fall 2010
Levels of Ecological Environment



Collective resistance: Civil Rights Movement
Organizational Resistance: Association of Black Psychologists
Individual Resistance: Oppositional Identity
18
Fall 2010
Liberation & Social Action

“Liberation in fullest sense requires securing full human
rights & remaking of a society without roles of oppressor
& oppressed” (Watts, Williams, & Jager, 2003, p. 1897)

Paulo Friere’s Model of 2nd order change



19
Critical awareness & understanding of oppressive system
Commitment to involvement in struggle
Collective action
Fall 2010
Limitations of Oppression/ Liberation Perspective
20

Addresses issue of social structure/power - different
emphasis from cultural perspective

May inadvertently homogenize members of oppressed
groups

Portray oppressed individuals as victims

May perpetuate a conflict model of issues
Fall 2010
Extra Credit: Laramie Project

Thurs., Oct. 21st 7:30pm
Friday, Oct.22nd 7:30pm
Saturday, Oct. 23rd 2pm & 7:30pm
Sunday, Oct. 24th 2pm

$5/students & seniors; $10/adults

Reaction Paper worth up to 5 points added total grade
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awTx8iBm4u8&feat
ure=related




21
Fall 2010