Diversity Appreciation Cultural Awareness Iowa Civil Rights

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Diversity Appreciation
Cultural Awareness
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Iowa Civil Rights Commission

• The state administrative agency which
  enforces the Iowa Civil Rights Act of 1965
  (Chapter 216 of the Iowa Code)

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Our Mission Our Vision

• Vision A state free from Discrimination
• Mission To enforce Civil Rights through
  Compliance, Mediation, Advocacy, and Education

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Protected Personal Characteristics

• Physical Disability
• Mental Disability (not in Credit)
• Age (Employment and Credit only)
• Familial Status (Housing and Credit only)
• Marital Status (Credit only)
• Retaliation

• Race
• Color
• Creed
• National Origin
• Religion
• Sex/Pregnancy
• Sexual Orientation
• Gender Identity

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Overview

• The meaning and implications of Diversity
• Factors which interfere with the appreciation of
  Diversity
• The importance of appreciating Diversity

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What is Diversity?

• The differences which make us each unique
• Recognizing the differences until the differences
  dont make a difference anymore
• All of our differences and similarities

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Diversity Defined
Diversity is the mosaic of people who bring a
variety of backgrounds, styles, perspectives,
values, and beliefs as assets to the groups and
organizations with which they interact.
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What is Workforce Diversity?
Diversity is the variation of social and cultural
identities among people existing together in a
defined employment or market setting. Taylor Cox
Jr.
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What is Culture?

• Culture is a shared set of belief systems,
  values, practices and assumptions which determine
  how people interact with each other and interpret
  the world.

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What is Culture?

• The learned behavior, customs and way of life
  of a group of people

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Cultural Differences

• Concrete (visual)
• Behavioral
• Ethical

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Symbols
Rituals
Heros
Core Values
Practices
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Identity Triangle
Individual Uniqueness
Group Identity
Common Humanity
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Identity Triangle A -ism Example
X
Denies Individual Uniqueness Places Negative
Meaning on Group Identification Denies Common
Humanity
Group Identity
X
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Identity Triangle B Color-blind Example I
dont see differences
X
Denies Individual Uniqueness Denies Differences
Based Group Identification Overemphasizes
Commonalities
X
Common Humanity
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Identity Triangle C Excessive Individualism
Example
Overemphasizes Individual Uniqueness Denies the
Impact of Group Identification Denies Areas of
Commonality
Individual Uniqueness
X
X
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First Thoughts
Caucasians are... Gays are Lesbians are Native
Americans are Teenagers are... Police Officers
are
Men Are... Women are African-Americans
are Latinos are Asians are
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Attitudes towards differences

• Where do they come from ?
• Personal Experience
• Family
• Friends
• Community
• Television, Films and other media

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Factors Which Interfere With Diversity
Appreciation

• Stereotypes
• Prejudice
• Discrimination

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Stereotype

• A misconception about an individual or group
  based on the belief that all people in a given
  group will act in the same way.
• Example All .are lazy.

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Prejudice

• An irrational suspicion or hatred of a particular
  group, race, or religion
• Making up your mind about what a person or group
  is like before you get to know them

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Discrimination

• The act of giving unequal treatment to an
  individual or group of people because they are
  members of a certain culture or race, or because
  of other differences. People are denied equal
  opportunities because of their differences.

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It is not our differences that divide us. It is
our inability to recognize, accept and celebrate
those differences. Audre Lorde
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The Tolerance Scale

• This scale is based on five different ratings
  of how people respond to others in terms of their
  attitudes toward differences
• 1. Repulsion
• 2. Avoidance
• 3. Tolerance
• 4. Acceptance
• 5. Appreciation ( Goal )

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1. Repulsion

• You believe that people with a particular
  difference are not normal and they do not belong
  in your workplace or community. Working with
  them, or being around them causes you a lot of
  discomfort.
• (Lowest Rating)

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2. Avoidance

• You do not understand or are not familiar with
  people with a particular difference. They make
  you uncomfortable. You try to avoid them and
  dont want to work with them or be around them.

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3. Tolerance

• You dont appreciate people with a particular
  difference, but you can work with them. You
  dont feel completely comfortable around them,
  but you believe that they have a right to be
  treated respectfully. However, if you had your
  choice, you would not have them as co-workers or
  neighbors.

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4. Acceptance

• You are comfortable around people with a
  particular difference, and value them in your
  workplace or community. You listen to them and
  interact well with them. This rating indicates
  that this difference does not really matter to
  you.

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5. Appreciation
You consider people with a particular difference
as smart and talented, or possessing traits,
skills and attitudes you admire. At work or in
the community, you enjoy being around people with
this difference. In fact, you choose to be around
them. This rating means that you see this
particular difference as positive.
(Highest Rating)
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Living Diversity
Living Diversity is the recognition, acceptance,
appreciation and utilization of all Human
Potential.
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What you can do

• Know yourself and your own culture.
• Examine your own attitudes towards people who are
  different from you.
• Try to identify the origin of your negative
  reaction toward differences.

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What you can do

• Decide if your biases are getting in the way.
• Be willing to talk, listen and learn.
• Speak out against insensitive remarks and
  discriminatory behavior.

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What you can do

• Take action when appropriate and address
  discriminatory behavior.
• Continue to respect, accept and appreciate
  differences.
• Promote diversity appreciation in your community.

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What you can do

• Be aware of the subtleties of discrimination.
• Be aware of how discrimination hurts and whom it
  hurts.
• Act as a role model.

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Approaches to Diversity
The Golden Rule 1960s, assimilation, stop
treating people badly Right the Wrongs 1970s,
affirmative action, created us versus
them Value All Differences Beyond 2000,
diversity is an asset, Platinum Rule
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Iowa Civil Rights Commission
Grimes State Office Building Des Moines, Iowa
50319 515-281-4121 800-457-4416 FAX
515-242-5840 http//www.state.ia.us/government/crc