Diversity and Stress

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Diversity and Stress
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Discussion of culture

• A few virtually-unassailable comments, plus a few
  personal opinions

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Multiplicity of viewpoints

• There are many, many differing perspectives on
  diversity.

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Boundaries of knowledge

• It is important to recognize that discrimination
  exists in the United States.
• It is also important to recognize that not
  everything that goes on in the U.S. is the result
  of racism.
• Between these two endpoints, however, much debate
  exists as to the extent and representativeness of
  discrimination.

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Historical role of culture

• Throughout the ages, cultural affiliation has
  been seen as a source of comfort.
• Identity is the answer to the questions
• Who am I?
• How am I different from some people yet similar
  to some others?
• How am I different from most people yet similar
  to most?

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Now, for some opinions

• The American appetite for identity is insatiable.
• Distinctiveness -- being different from most
  people while belonging to a small, elite group --
  has been a cornerstone of advertising.
• It seems unlikely that the United States will
  ever become a less diverse society.

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Diversity and stress

• Much conflict between individuals of different
  cultural groups is due to misunderstanding or
  agreement about norms, values, and procedures.

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Personal understanding

• The most likely cause by which a person may
  understand another cultural group is to know a
  person from that group very well.

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In my opinion

• I believe we would all have a much better
  understanding of other groups as well as our own
  culture if we all had the experience of
• Living,
• immersed,
• for 6 months in a
• foreign
• country.

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Result of cross-cultural experiences

• Ability to see all cultures with greater
  objectivity.
• Each culture contains a repertoire of practices
  and attitudes which prove effective.
• All cultures also have incongruencies Conflicts
  created when a stated value does not match
  peoples behaviors.

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Some American incongruencies

• The public school system.
• The cost of health insurance.
• Vocational/technical education.