Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

Culture is the customs and social norms of people or a community.

Diversity reflects the percentage and ethnic makeup of participants in a group, organization or community.  





My definition of culture is one's traditions, beliefs and values.  What a community practices and how they live.  For me its the value of education, responsibility, a good work ethic and Christianity.  

Diversity is acknowledging and embracing differences.  For me it's accepting and liking that a community is stronger and better with diversity. If everyone is the same you lose creativity and individuality.  



Culture is a way of living that is nourished by the environment that people live in.  Culture can involve unwritten or written policies.  For example there can be a west or east coast culture.  Culture isn't always particular to race as many people think.  Advertising and media has adopted a hip/hop and urban culture.

Diversity is a mixture of differences based on certain factors such as race, religion, gender, ect. Diversity isn't changed by the environment.  It helps enrich it.  




There are so many definitions of what is perceived to be culture and what is diversity.  I feel that the responses I received were all correct.  I appreciate the statement that said diversity is to embrace.  So many times I have seen the word "tolerate" when reading about diversity.  Tolerate means to accept something that you may not like.  It has negative connotations.  Embracing is learning about one another and sharing in the same process.  

No one stated that each family has their own individual culture and I feel that is very important when working with families as no two families are alike.  This past week my daughter asked me if all black people like watermelon.  I asked her if she likes watermelon.  She stated no.  I asked her if she was black and she said yes.  I asked her if I buy watermelon she said no.  Well Cailin, there is your answer.  She then proceeded to tell me she has watched a video on The Vine and it was portraying stereotypes based on race and what people eat.  This was an educational opportunity to share with her about stereotypes and how you can not believe what you see in the media.  I also shared that this type of media is not nice.  This class has really opened discussions that I am having with my daughter.  In  one of the definitions above for culture it stated the media has really opened a new culture.  Its so very much true as it has a direct influence on children and adults.  

I also really like the statement that diversity enriches the environment.  Imagine everyone being the same???  A environment in which differences are valued truly makes a difference,  Everyone is able to bring their unique and individual differences and share with one another.  Each one of my staff is very different.  They each bring a diverse amount of knowledge and skills to make our team.  It works because they are able to share their knowledge and problem solve to help families become more successful.  



       

My Family Culture

I had real hard time trying to come up with three items that I would want to take if being evacuated to another country.... I posted the questions on Facebook just to get a feel of what my friends might post.  Unfortunately, they were of little help.  

What I finally decided upon was that I would want to take the cross necklace that I wear almost daily.  Being a Christian is apart of my family culture.  Other than this item I wouldn't have anything else that I really would want to take as material items would not matter since I have my family and memories with me.  

However, I would want to take some sort of weapon or item that could be used as a weapon if need be.  Gotta be able to protect the family....  

Depending on the country and what my access to electricity would be would help decide if I took my cell phone as it has music and contact list on it.  May not be very significant if moved to a country that has no cell towers or electricity. The cell phone is just apart of a subculture of electronics but not related to my ethnicity 

I am a make-up queen and I figured I could easily make make-up with spices and berries :) 

If I had to choose which item I would keep I would definitely keep my cross.  I wouldn't have any emotions toward the other material items that don't have a significance in my life. Having my cross would provide me comfort and reminder that my God is with me at all times.   

I did learn from asking others that were Native American what would they bring and there were ceremonial items that would be significant to them.  Most of my friends didn't come up with any cultural items that they would want to bring.  It was a exercise that really causes you to think.  At first I was thinking about items related to race but then realized that I need not think that way.  Being a Christian is apart of the culture in which I grew up in and that is a part of me that can not be taken away.  

When I think of Research

I have gained more insight that I truly dislike research methods even more this time around than the first two times I took it in undergrad.  I can’t say that I can truly apply the concepts without having to re-read a couple times and then hope that I am doing correctly.  I have been truly surprised that I am getting an A.  I simply think it’s the grace of God that has gotten me thus far…

If I was to ever plan a research project I would have an outline that would provide me the ability to follow.  I would have an idea about which methods I would follow and how I would compile and analyze data.  I think conducting research is just as difficult as I conceptualized before and I would never want to conduct a research study to this degree.  I have learned that there are so many steps to plan, think about, re-think about, plan again, variable, extraneous variable, independent variables, validity, methodologies, sampling choices, ethics, quantitative, qualitative and more and more and more…  Truly enough to make one crazy.  

I learned that it was possible to complete this class.  I learned that I NEVER, EVER, EVER want to do research methods and pray never to have to take this class again.  Third time a charm.  I was challenged each week to complete the assignments. There were times where I did not understand concepts and relied on a friend to assist me.  I also would conduct research online and look at kids websites that simplified the concepts on terms that I could grasp, understand and then apply my knowledge to the assignments.   

I have great admiration for those who have the patience and the knowledge to put all these pieces of the puzzle together and make great sense of it.  There are many researchers that have been successful and thus have further the field of early childhood education.  Many great studies like Perry Project which is influential in parent participation, home-visits and center-based care.  I am grateful that I chose direct service as my initial route in early childhood education.

I did learn most from the discussion post.  Writing them and reading my colleagues enhanced my knowledge in others viewpoints.  Thanks and good luck in your education journey.  Much thanks to Dr. Parrish!  You’re the first professor that took the time not to cut and paste comments.  You actually read the work and your comments greatly assisted me in being a more professional writer!