Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

I find it interesting that all of the responses to a request to define culture included a reference to family traditions and the way people grow up.  Only one definition included race, ethnicity, values and customs.  Diversity was defined as differences in people.  None of the people I spoke with referred to socioeconomic levels, religious beliefs, abilities, or language.  I got the impression that many people do not really give a great deal of thought to all that culture and diversity encompass beyond surface level issues.

Some of the components of culture included in the definitions received involved a more in depth discussion of family traditions which integrated how people feel about religion, education, politics, or how they celebrate different holidays, marriages, birthdays, and even how they deal with death.  When people talked about the way people grow up they meant their family’s values, religious beliefs, socioeconomic level, where they live, their dress, whether or not they go to school, language, and whether family make up is traditional or a different arrangement. 

Listening to others define culture and diversity has heightened my awareness to the fact that everyone’s thoughts about what these terms mean can be very narrow or broad.  What is included depends on the person being asked.  Now when I think about culture and diversity my definitions are more inclusive of deep culture than prior to me taking this class or discussing the topic with others.  I recognize the importance of understanding, maintaining an awareness, and being respectful of not just surface culture, but also the deep culture components held my students and their families in my role as an early childhood educator.  I think that my level of understanding and awareness regarding culture and diversity will determine my level of success in creating a welcoming environment, establishing positive, effective relationships with students and their families as well as being how effectively I am able to foster attitudes of acceptance and appreciation of differences in people and their cultures.