Saturday, September 21, 2013

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture


These were my four responses (thank you friends and family for sharing!)

  •       “Culture: Morals and values that we are raised with, as well as influence by our society. Can include race, religion, as well as just area you live. Diversity: An array of people from different cultures, race, religion, etc all together” (Fought).
  • “Culture: the arts of humanities, intellectual achievement regarded collectively. Diversity: the state of having different forms, types and ideas” (Burkhart).
  •    “Diversity- different. Culture- grown, nourished. At least that's my idea of each” (Runckel).
  •        “Diversity: having difference, changeable. Culture: heritage where one comes from or chooses to be a part of” (Kay).

Similar to the course’s work on these topics our culture is everything we are, including (but not limited to)- morals, values, influences, the arts, achievements, growth, nurture, heritage and choices. Again my mind is broadened even further, and I am amazed at how the term culture brings about heart-warming definitions. Initially, I thought cultural tools were not included in these responses, yet they are. Art, achievements and items of heritage are created and used by people and groups. Where we work, what we do each day are choices, choices of what to be a part of. Diversity appears simple, yet is truly complex my opinion. It can be seen as ‘how we are different from each other’ yet through the course and my own reflections there are various pieces to its whole. How does one “…take on the diversity of the reality of…[?]” (Smidt, 2006). Also, being different makes up humanity, yet when we are unaware of the small differences or lack the ability to utilize, assimilate, and evolve within the diversities among us we hit a wall. Some theories in child development “[do not] allow us to account for the huge diversity we encounter when we broaden our palette to encompass all the world’s children” (Smidt, 2006). A picture of a dance is completely different than moving within the dance.

3 comments:

  1. Cassie,

    I like your inclusion of the arts in describing aspects of culture as I feel that music has played a significant role in my family's culture. In what ways have the arts been culturally meaningful to you?

    Thanks for sharing!

    Best,
    Parker

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  2. Cassie,

    You mention nurturing and achievements among other things as part of your definition of culture. Without a doubt how a person nurtures others and what is important in terms of achievement is going to vary based on one's culture and personal experiences. Our expression of culture and who we are is complex and ever changing (Smidt, 2013)which means our definitions are probably going to be fluid and changing to some extent. Great post!

    References

    Smidt, S. (2013). The Developing Child in the 21st Century: A
    global perspective on child development (2nd Edition). London,
    England: Routledge.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I enjoyed reading your post and I must agree that in culture our heritage is lot about where come from and what we choose to be apart of. We can be born into one particular culture but as people we have a right to choose whether we will follow that culture or find one that better suits our beliefs and morals.

    ReplyDelete