Cultural Diversity
Cultural Diversity is a noun and according to Dictionary.com the first definition is the cultural variety and cultural differences that exist in the world, a society, or an institution. The second definition is the inclusion of diverse people in a group or organization. I define cultural diversity as when you have people from different countries who of course have different beliefs, speak different languages, male and female living and working together peacefully. As social workers we must understand how diversity characterizes and shapes the human experience and is critical to the formation of identity.
Most of the time we leave the difficult task of teaching cultural diversity up to our local schools and teachers, under the catch-all phrase of multicultural education. We assume that during February our children will learn about "Black History." A particular month or week is dedicated to a certain ethnic group or belief, as if this somehow acknowledges their full contribution to American history. As social workers, we appreciate that, as a consequence of difference, a person’s life experiences may include oppression, poverty, marginalization, and alienation as well as privilege, power, and acclaim.
The Bible also speaks about diversity in the book of Matthews 28: 18-20. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” I felt like this passage can certainly be related to cultural diversity and social worker because we are change agents and problem solvers. In order to gain sufficient self-awareness, we must eliminate the influences of personal biases and values while working with diverse groups.
We live at a time when the encounter of languages, races, and
Most of the time we leave the difficult task of teaching cultural diversity up to our local schools and teachers, under the catch-all phrase of multicultural education. We assume that during February our children will learn about "Black History." A particular month or week is dedicated to a certain ethnic group or belief, as if this somehow acknowledges their full contribution to American history. As social workers, we appreciate that, as a consequence of difference, a person’s life experiences may include oppression, poverty, marginalization, and alienation as well as privilege, power, and acclaim.
The Bible also speaks about diversity in the book of Matthews 28: 18-20. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” I felt like this passage can certainly be related to cultural diversity and social worker because we are change agents and problem solvers. In order to gain sufficient self-awareness, we must eliminate the influences of personal biases and values while working with diverse groups.
We live at a time when the encounter of languages, races, and