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Chapter 5
Challenges and Benefits
Challenges include
 Gender
 Age
 Ideology
 Nationality
 Sexual orientation
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Discrimination is when an action is based on
a prejudice against an individual or group
because of race, class, gender, age and
disabilities etc.
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Examples of discrimination and prejudice
include:
Dominant white against black
Dominant males against females
Dominant rich against poor
Dominant old against young ( and vice versa)
Many of the challenges presented by cultural
diversity stem from ‘isms’ :
 Racism
 Sexism
 Ageism
 Ableism
 Classism
These ‘isms’ can lead to prejudice and biased
behaviour.
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Racism occurs when a member or members
of a dominant group discriminate against
others based on the belief that there are
basic differences in people’s behaviour and
abilities entirely due to their ‘race’.
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Classism means that different values are
placed on people based not on personality
but on their social and economic ‘value’.
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Sexism means that men and women are
treated according to their gender rather than
individual characteristics. This can lead to
prejudice and bias against the less dominant
group.
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Ageism refers to individuals being
discriminated against because of their age
rather than their ability.
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Ableism relates to discrimination against
people with a disability that has a negative
effect on their everyday activities in work or
social life.
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The most recognised benefits of cultural
diversity are :
Creativity
Innovation
Cooperation
Synergy
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Creativity
Working and interacting with other cultures
can help our creativity by absorbing input
resulting from different backgrounds,
experiences, and ideas.
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Innovation
When people from different cultures work
together a collection of ideas and innovations
are readily available.
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Cooperation
Once our differences are acknowledged and
respected the opportunities for connecting
and cooperating become easier. Positive
attitudes result in similarities becoming more
important than differences.
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Synergy
Synergy is the extra energy and effectiveness
when people and organisations create a
spirit of understanding and openness. This
leads to the opportunity to cooperate and
combine their efforts.
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These benefits develop when people from
different cultural backgrounds work or live
together.