{"id":117,"date":"2014-08-25T03:19:34","date_gmt":"2014-08-25T03:19:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.candelalearning.com\/collegesuccess1x1\/?post_type=chapter&#038;p=117"},"modified":"2015-06-29T13:06:38","modified_gmt":"2015-06-29T13:06:38","slug":"living-with-diversity","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/monroe-collegesuccess-thirdedition\/chapter\/living-with-diversity\/","title":{"raw":"Diversity","rendered":"Diversity"},"content":{"raw":"<div class=\"bcc-box bcc-highlight\">\r\n<h3>Learning Objectives<\/h3>\r\nBy the end of this section, you will be able to:\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>Define diversity and explain the benefits of a diverse college campus for all students.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>List ten or more ways in which different groups of people can have significant differences, experiences, and perspectives.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Explain why all college students are more successful academically in a diverse environment.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Explain what students can do to foster multiculturalism and celebrate diversity on campus.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\nOur society is very diverse. By 2020 an estimated one in three Americans(and half of all college students) will be a person of color, but the term diversity means much more than a variety of racial and ethnic differences. As we\u2019ll use the term here, <span class=\"im_margin_term\"><span class=\"im_glossterm\">diversity<\/span><\/span> refers to the great variety of human characteristics, the ways\u00a0we are different even as we are all human and share more similarities than differences. These differences are an essential part of what enriches humanity.\r\n<h2 class=\"im_title im_editable im_block\">What Diversity Really Means<\/h2>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images-archive-read-only\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/560\/2015\/04\/21142845\/leaves.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-597\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images-archive-read-only\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/560\/2015\/04\/21142845\/leaves-300x241.jpg\" alt=\"A collection of fall leaves\" width=\"300\" height=\"241\" \/><\/a>Differences among people may involve where a person was born and raised, the person\u2019s family and cultural group, factual differences in personal identity, and chosen differences in significant beliefs. Some diversity is primarily cultural (involving shared beliefs and behaviors) while\u00a0other diversity may be biological (race, age, gender, ability), and some\u00a0is\u00a0personal (sexual orientation, religion, politics). Diversity generally involves things that may significantly affect some people\u2019s perceptions of others, not\u00a0the general\u00a0ways people happen to be different.\r\n\r\nWe can all learn things from people whose ideas, beliefs, attitudes, values, backgrounds, experiences, and behaviors are different from our own.\r\n<h2 class=\"im_title im_editable im_block\">The Benefits of Diversity<\/h2>\r\nExposure to diversity helps\u00a0individuals overcome stereotypes and become more accepting of human differences, so the goal of many college admissions departments is to attract diverse students from a broad range of backgrounds. Diversity\u00a0is important for\u00a0many reasons:\r\n<ul id=\"lochhaas-ch09_s02_s02_l01\" class=\"im_itemizedlist im_editable im_block\">\r\n\t<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Experiencing diversity at college prepares students for the diversity they will encounter the rest of their lives.<\/strong> Learning to understand and accept people different from ourselves is very important in our world. Success in one\u2019s career and future social life also requires understanding people in new ways and interacting with new skills. Experiencing diversity in college assists in this process.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Students learn better in a diverse educational setting.<\/strong> Encountering new concepts, values, and behaviors leads to thinking in deeper, more complex, and more creative ways, rather than furthering past ideas and attitudes. Students who experience the most racial and ethnic diversity in their classes are more engaged in active thinking processes, develop more intellectual and academic skills, and have higher grade point averages than\u00a0students with limited experience of diversity.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Attention to diversity leads to a broader range of teaching methods, which benefits the learning process for all students.<\/strong> Just as people are different in diverse ways, people from different backgrounds and experiences learn in different ways, so college teaching has expanded to include many new teaching techniques. All students gain when instructors make the effort to address diverse learning needs.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Experiencing diversity on campus is beneficial for both minority and majority students.<\/strong> Studies show all students on campus gain from diversity programs. Students have more fulfilling social relationships and report more satisfaction and involvement with their college experience.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Diversity experiences help break the patterns of segregation and prejudice that have characterized American history.<\/strong> <span class=\"im_margin_term\"><span class=\"im_glossterm\">Discrimination<\/span><\/span> against others, whether by race, gender, age, sexual orientation, or anything else, is rooted in ignorance and sometimes fear of people who are different. Getting to know different people\u00a0is the first step in accepting those differences, furthering the goal of a society free of all forms of prejudice and the unfair treatment of people.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">College is ideal setting for forming healthy attitudes about diversity. <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images-archive-read-only\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/560\/2015\/04\/21142846\/snowflakes1.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-599\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images-archive-read-only\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/560\/2015\/04\/21142846\/snowflakes1-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Framed snowflakes in a collage\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" \/><\/a>The college years are a time of intellectual, social, and emotional growth, and a sustained experience of diversity is an opportunity to heighten these processes.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Experiencing diversity makes us all better citizens in our democracy.<\/strong> Democratic government depends on shared values of equality and the public good. Studies have shown that college graduates with a good experience of diversity generally maintain patterns of openness and inclusivity in their future lives, making them better equipped to participate meaningfully in our society.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Diversity enhances self-awareness.<\/strong> We gain insights into our own thought processes, life experiences, and values as we learn from people whose backgrounds and experiences are different from our own.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nWhile all the benefits described have been demonstrated repeatedly on campuses all across the country in study after study,\u00a0some problems still remain. Society changes slowly, and sadly, many students in some areas, including gay and lesbian students, students with disabilities, and many minority students, still feel marginalized in the dominant culture of their campuses.\u00a0Even in a country that elected an African American president, racism exists in many places. Women still earn less than men in the same jobs. Thus society as a whole, and colleges in particular, need to continue to work to destroy old stereotypes and achieve a full acceptance of our human differences.\r\n<h2>Multiculturalism<\/h2>\r\nMulticulturalism involves accepting and respecting the ideas, feelings, behaviors, and experiences of people different from oneself. America has always included a great diversity of ideas, attitudes, and behaviors. For example, the constitutional separation of church and state guarantees that people of all religions have the same freedoms and rights for worship and religious behavior.\u00a0Other laws guarantee the equal rights of all people regardless of skin color, gender, age, and other differences.\r\n\r\nColleges similarly make commitments to ensure they respect and value differences among people and promote a wide understanding of such differences. The <a href=\"http:\/\/www.monroecc.edu\/depts\/diversity\/?a-zindex\" target=\"_blank\">Diversity Council<\/a> at Monroe Community College helps all students not only accept and understand differences among students of varied backgrounds but also celebrate the benefits diversity provides for all.\r\n<h2 class=\"im_title im_editable im_block\">Cultural Differences in Body Language<\/h2>\r\nWhile we should be careful not to stereotype individuals or whole cultures, it is important to be aware of potential differences among cultures when interacting with other people. For example, body language often has different meanings in different cultures. Understanding such differences can help you better understand your interaction with others. Here are a few examples:\r\n<ul id=\"lochhaas-ch09_s02_s03_s01_l01\" class=\"im_itemizedlist\">\r\n\t<li>Many Americans cross their legs when seated and thus may point the bottom of their shoe toward another person; many Japanese find this gesture offensive.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Many Americans may wave their index fingers at someone else to make a point, but this gesture is often offensive to Mexicans and Somali, who may use that gesture only for dogs.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>In America, men and women shake hands with each other, but in some other cultures, handshakes across genders are not acceptable.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>In America, eye contact is generally considered polite and a sign of interest, whereas in many Asian cultures, people show their respect for others by bowing their head slightly\u00a0because they\u00a0consider steady eye contact aggressive.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h3 class=\"im_title\">Activity: Challenge Your Thinking<\/h3>\r\nRead each of the following scenarios quickly and respond immediately without stopping to think. There are no right or wrong answers.\r\n<div class=\"textbox shaded\"><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Scenario 1.<\/strong> You are walking home down a dark sidewalk when ahead you see three people standing around. Something about the way they are hanging out makes you a little frightened to walk past them. Be honest with yourself: what did you just imagine these people looked like? Why do think you might have associated this particular mental picture with the emotion of feeling frightened?<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"textbox shaded\"><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Scenario 2.<\/strong> In a caf\u00e9 on campus, you see a student from another country sitting alone. Since this is someone you know casually from a class, you walk over and are just about to ask if you can join him, when two other students also from his country appear and sit down with him. You hesitate. Would you have hesitated if this person had the same cultural background as you? What makes this situation different? As you hesitate, you overhear them conversing in a language other than English. Be honest with yourself: how does that make you feel now?<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"textbox shaded\"><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Scenario 3.<\/strong> A couple you know invites you to join them and one of their friends, whom you have not met, to go to the movies and dinner on a \u201cdouble date.\"\u00a0 When you meet them outside the theater, you see that their friend, your date, is of a race different from your own. Are you surprised or shocked? What is your first reaction? Do you anticipate any more difficulty making conversation with your date than with anyone else whom you have just met? Should your friends have told you in advance? Why or why not? If they had told you, would that have made any difference? Explain.<\/div>\r\nNow think for a minute about how you responded in these scenarios. Did your mental image in the first scenario involve a negative stereotype? What images in the media or society might have contributed to that response? The second and third scenarios involve simple situations in which you couldn\u2019t help but note some difference between you and another person. What might you feel in such situations in real life? Again, there is no right answer, and an awareness of differences is normal and natural even if it may cause some discomfort at first. On the other hand, if you have had significant experiences with diverse others, you might have read these scenarios and simply wondered, \u201cSo what? What\u2019s the big deal?\u201d It\u2019s worthwhile thinking about what that means.\r\n\r\nSteps we can take to further value diversity include the following:\r\n\r\n<strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Honor differences among people.<\/strong> Some people try so hard to avoid stereotyping that they go to the other extreme and try to avoid seeing any differences at all among people, but as we have seen throughout this chapter, people are different in many ways. We should accept that truth\u00a0if we are to experience the benefits of diversity.\r\n\r\n<strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Avoid\u00a0generalizations about individuals.<\/strong> As an extension of not stereotyping any group, also don\u2019t think of any individual person in terms of group characteristics. People are individuals first, members of a group second.\u00a0Be open minded and treat everyone with respect as an individual with his or her own ideas, attitudes, and preferences.\r\n\r\n<strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Develop cultural sensitivity for communication.<\/strong> Realize that your words may not mean quite the same thing in different cultural contexts or to individuals from different backgrounds. You should generally avoid slang words until you are sure the other person will know what you mean, and never try to use expressions you think are common in the cultural group of the person you are speaking with. Similarly, since body language often varies among different cultures, avoid strong gestures\u00a0until the responses of the other person signify he or she will not misinterpret the messages sent by your body language.\r\n\r\n<strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Take advantage of campus opportunities to increase your cultural awareness.<\/strong> Your college likely has multiculturalism courses or workshops you can sign up for. Special events, cultural fairs and celebrations, concerts, and other programs are held frequently on most campuses. There may also be opportunities to participate in group travel to other countries or regions of cultural diversity.\r\n\r\n<strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Take the initiative in social interactions.<\/strong> Even when we\u2019re open minded and want to learn about others different from ourselves, it often seems easier and more comfortable to interact with others of the same age, cultural group, and so on. If we don\u2019t make\u00a0efforts to meet others, however, we miss a great opportunity to learn and broaden our horizons. Next time you\u2019re looking around\u00a0for someone to ask about a class you missed or to study together for a test or group project, choose someone different from you in some way. Making friends with others of different backgrounds is often one of the most fulfilling experiences of college students.\r\n<h2>Take a Stand against Prejudice and Hate<\/h2>\r\nUnfortunately prejudice and hate still exist in America, even on college campuses. All campuses have policies against all forms of prejudice and discriminatory behaviors, but\u00a0fighting prejudice and hate is\u00a0the responsibility\u00a0of all\u00a0citizens who take seriously the\u00a0American value of equality for all people.\r\n\r\nThe following are some things\u00a0you as a college student can\u00a0do to take a stand:\r\n<ul id=\"lochhaas-ch09_s02_s03_s02_l01\" class=\"im_itemizedlist im_editable im_block\">\r\n\t<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\"><a href=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images-archive-read-only\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/560\/2015\/04\/21142850\/lawn-party.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-601\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images-archive-read-only\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/560\/2015\/04\/21142850\/lawn-party-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Group of young adults laying on a lawn\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" \/><\/a>Decide that it does matter.<\/strong> Prejudice threatens us all, not just the particular group being discriminated against in a specific incident. Don\u2019t stand on the sidelines. We can all do something.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Talk with others.<\/strong> Communication has great value on campuses. Let others know how you feel about any acts of prejudice or hatred\u00a0you may\u00a0witness. The more everyone openly condemns such behavior, the less likely it is to reappear in the future. If you hear another student telling a racist joke or putting down the opposite sex, speak up and tell the person you find such statements offensive.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Report incidents you observe.<\/strong> If you happen to see someone spray-painting a hateful slogan, for example, be a good citizen and report it to the appropriate campus office or\u00a0a Public Safety\u00a0officer.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Support student groups working for change. <\/strong>Show your support for groups and activities that celebrate diversity and condemn prejudice. Even if you're shy,\u00a0your attendance at a parade or gathering lends support. You could write a letter to the editor in\u00a0the student newspaper, help hand out leaflets for an upcoming rally, or put up posters on campus. America has a great tradition of college students banding together to help solve social problems, and you can be part of the solution.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Celebrate diversity.<\/strong> In many ways, you can learn more about diversity through campus programs and activities. The more all students participate, the closer the campus will come to being free of prejudice and hate. Be a role model in how you act and what you say in relation to diversity, and you may have more effect on others than you realize.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2 class=\"im_title im_editable im_block\">Dealing with Prejudice<\/h2>\r\nIf you yourself experience prejudice or discrimination related to your race or ethnicity, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion, or any other aspect of diversity, don\u2019t just try to ignore it or accept it as something that cannot be changed. As discussed earlier, college students can do much to minimize intolerance on campus. Many overt forms of discrimination are\u00a0 illegal and against college policies. You owe it to yourself to report it to the appropriate college authority.\r\n\r\nYou can also attack prejudice in other ways. Join a campus organization that works to reduce prejudice or start a new group and discuss ways you can confront the problem and work for a solution. Seek solidarity with other groups. Organize positive celebrations and events to promote understanding. Write an article for a campus publication explaining the values of diversity and condemning intolerance.\r\n\r\nWhat if you are directly confronted by an individual or group making racist or other discriminatory remarks? In an emotionally charged situation, rational dialogue may be difficult or impossible, and a shouting match or name-calling seldom is productive. If the person may have made an offensive remark inadvertently or because of a misunderstanding, then you may be able to calmly explain the problem with what they said or did. Hopefully the person will apologize and learn from the experience, but if the person made the remark or acted that way intentionally, confronting this negative person directly may be difficult and not have a positive outcome. Most important, take care that the situation does not escalate in the direction of violence. Reporting the incident instead to college authorities may better serve the larger purpose of working toward harmony and tolerance.\r\n<div class=\"bcc-box bcc-success\">\r\n<h3>Key Takeaways<\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>Diversity refers to a great variety of human characteristics and ways in which people differ.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Diversity in the college environment has\u00a0benefits for all students, faculty, and others. Students learn more in a diverse setting, are better prepared for the future, and contribute more fully in positive ways to society.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Multiculturalism involves respecting the ideas, feelings, behaviors, and experiences of those who are different from oneself in any way. Colleges promote both diversity in the student body and multiculturalism among all students.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>As an individual, each of us can gain the benefits of diversity as we challenge our own stereotypes, understand and celebrate differences in others, and learn to interact well with\u00a0those different from ourselves. Take advantage of campus opportunities to increase your cultural awareness and to form social relationships with diverse others.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Although we would hope that all college campuses would be free of hate and discrimination, it can become necessary to take a stand against prejudice.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>","rendered":"<div class=\"bcc-box bcc-highlight\">\n<h3>Learning Objectives<\/h3>\n<p>By the end of this section, you will be able to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Define diversity and explain the benefits of a diverse college campus for all students.<\/li>\n<li>List ten or more ways in which different groups of people can have significant differences, experiences, and perspectives.<\/li>\n<li>Explain why all college students are more successful academically in a diverse environment.<\/li>\n<li>Explain what students can do to foster multiculturalism and celebrate diversity on campus.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>Our society is very diverse. By 2020 an estimated one in three Americans(and half of all college students) will be a person of color, but the term diversity means much more than a variety of racial and ethnic differences. As we\u2019ll use the term here, <span class=\"im_margin_term\"><span class=\"im_glossterm\">diversity<\/span><\/span> refers to the great variety of human characteristics, the ways\u00a0we are different even as we are all human and share more similarities than differences. These differences are an essential part of what enriches humanity.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"im_title im_editable im_block\">What Diversity Really Means<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images-archive-read-only\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/560\/2015\/04\/21142845\/leaves.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-597\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images-archive-read-only\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/560\/2015\/04\/21142845\/leaves-300x241.jpg\" alt=\"A collection of fall leaves\" width=\"300\" height=\"241\" \/><\/a>Differences among people may involve where a person was born and raised, the person\u2019s family and cultural group, factual differences in personal identity, and chosen differences in significant beliefs. Some diversity is primarily cultural (involving shared beliefs and behaviors) while\u00a0other diversity may be biological (race, age, gender, ability), and some\u00a0is\u00a0personal (sexual orientation, religion, politics). Diversity generally involves things that may significantly affect some people\u2019s perceptions of others, not\u00a0the general\u00a0ways people happen to be different.<\/p>\n<p>We can all learn things from people whose ideas, beliefs, attitudes, values, backgrounds, experiences, and behaviors are different from our own.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"im_title im_editable im_block\">The Benefits of Diversity<\/h2>\n<p>Exposure to diversity helps\u00a0individuals overcome stereotypes and become more accepting of human differences, so the goal of many college admissions departments is to attract diverse students from a broad range of backgrounds. Diversity\u00a0is important for\u00a0many reasons:<\/p>\n<ul id=\"lochhaas-ch09_s02_s02_l01\" class=\"im_itemizedlist im_editable im_block\">\n<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Experiencing diversity at college prepares students for the diversity they will encounter the rest of their lives.<\/strong> Learning to understand and accept people different from ourselves is very important in our world. Success in one\u2019s career and future social life also requires understanding people in new ways and interacting with new skills. Experiencing diversity in college assists in this process.<\/li>\n<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Students learn better in a diverse educational setting.<\/strong> Encountering new concepts, values, and behaviors leads to thinking in deeper, more complex, and more creative ways, rather than furthering past ideas and attitudes. Students who experience the most racial and ethnic diversity in their classes are more engaged in active thinking processes, develop more intellectual and academic skills, and have higher grade point averages than\u00a0students with limited experience of diversity.<\/li>\n<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Attention to diversity leads to a broader range of teaching methods, which benefits the learning process for all students.<\/strong> Just as people are different in diverse ways, people from different backgrounds and experiences learn in different ways, so college teaching has expanded to include many new teaching techniques. All students gain when instructors make the effort to address diverse learning needs.<\/li>\n<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Experiencing diversity on campus is beneficial for both minority and majority students.<\/strong> Studies show all students on campus gain from diversity programs. Students have more fulfilling social relationships and report more satisfaction and involvement with their college experience.<\/li>\n<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Diversity experiences help break the patterns of segregation and prejudice that have characterized American history.<\/strong> <span class=\"im_margin_term\"><span class=\"im_glossterm\">Discrimination<\/span><\/span> against others, whether by race, gender, age, sexual orientation, or anything else, is rooted in ignorance and sometimes fear of people who are different. Getting to know different people\u00a0is the first step in accepting those differences, furthering the goal of a society free of all forms of prejudice and the unfair treatment of people.<\/li>\n<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">College is ideal setting for forming healthy attitudes about diversity. <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images-archive-read-only\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/560\/2015\/04\/21142846\/snowflakes1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-599\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images-archive-read-only\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/560\/2015\/04\/21142846\/snowflakes1-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Framed snowflakes in a collage\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" \/><\/a>The college years are a time of intellectual, social, and emotional growth, and a sustained experience of diversity is an opportunity to heighten these processes.<\/li>\n<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Experiencing diversity makes us all better citizens in our democracy.<\/strong> Democratic government depends on shared values of equality and the public good. Studies have shown that college graduates with a good experience of diversity generally maintain patterns of openness and inclusivity in their future lives, making them better equipped to participate meaningfully in our society.<\/li>\n<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Diversity enhances self-awareness.<\/strong> We gain insights into our own thought processes, life experiences, and values as we learn from people whose backgrounds and experiences are different from our own.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>While all the benefits described have been demonstrated repeatedly on campuses all across the country in study after study,\u00a0some problems still remain. Society changes slowly, and sadly, many students in some areas, including gay and lesbian students, students with disabilities, and many minority students, still feel marginalized in the dominant culture of their campuses.\u00a0Even in a country that elected an African American president, racism exists in many places. Women still earn less than men in the same jobs. Thus society as a whole, and colleges in particular, need to continue to work to destroy old stereotypes and achieve a full acceptance of our human differences.<\/p>\n<h2>Multiculturalism<\/h2>\n<p>Multiculturalism involves accepting and respecting the ideas, feelings, behaviors, and experiences of people different from oneself. America has always included a great diversity of ideas, attitudes, and behaviors. For example, the constitutional separation of church and state guarantees that people of all religions have the same freedoms and rights for worship and religious behavior.\u00a0Other laws guarantee the equal rights of all people regardless of skin color, gender, age, and other differences.<\/p>\n<p>Colleges similarly make commitments to ensure they respect and value differences among people and promote a wide understanding of such differences. The <a href=\"http:\/\/www.monroecc.edu\/depts\/diversity\/?a-zindex\" target=\"_blank\">Diversity Council<\/a> at Monroe Community College helps all students not only accept and understand differences among students of varied backgrounds but also celebrate the benefits diversity provides for all.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"im_title im_editable im_block\">Cultural Differences in Body Language<\/h2>\n<p>While we should be careful not to stereotype individuals or whole cultures, it is important to be aware of potential differences among cultures when interacting with other people. For example, body language often has different meanings in different cultures. Understanding such differences can help you better understand your interaction with others. Here are a few examples:<\/p>\n<ul id=\"lochhaas-ch09_s02_s03_s01_l01\" class=\"im_itemizedlist\">\n<li>Many Americans cross their legs when seated and thus may point the bottom of their shoe toward another person; many Japanese find this gesture offensive.<\/li>\n<li>Many Americans may wave their index fingers at someone else to make a point, but this gesture is often offensive to Mexicans and Somali, who may use that gesture only for dogs.<\/li>\n<li>In America, men and women shake hands with each other, but in some other cultures, handshakes across genders are not acceptable.<\/li>\n<li>In America, eye contact is generally considered polite and a sign of interest, whereas in many Asian cultures, people show their respect for others by bowing their head slightly\u00a0because they\u00a0consider steady eye contact aggressive.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 class=\"im_title\">Activity: Challenge Your Thinking<\/h3>\n<p>Read each of the following scenarios quickly and respond immediately without stopping to think. There are no right or wrong answers.<\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox shaded\"><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Scenario 1.<\/strong> You are walking home down a dark sidewalk when ahead you see three people standing around. Something about the way they are hanging out makes you a little frightened to walk past them. Be honest with yourself: what did you just imagine these people looked like? Why do think you might have associated this particular mental picture with the emotion of feeling frightened?<\/div>\n<div class=\"textbox shaded\"><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Scenario 2.<\/strong> In a caf\u00e9 on campus, you see a student from another country sitting alone. Since this is someone you know casually from a class, you walk over and are just about to ask if you can join him, when two other students also from his country appear and sit down with him. You hesitate. Would you have hesitated if this person had the same cultural background as you? What makes this situation different? As you hesitate, you overhear them conversing in a language other than English. Be honest with yourself: how does that make you feel now?<\/div>\n<div class=\"textbox shaded\"><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Scenario 3.<\/strong> A couple you know invites you to join them and one of their friends, whom you have not met, to go to the movies and dinner on a \u201cdouble date.&#8221;\u00a0 When you meet them outside the theater, you see that their friend, your date, is of a race different from your own. Are you surprised or shocked? What is your first reaction? Do you anticipate any more difficulty making conversation with your date than with anyone else whom you have just met? Should your friends have told you in advance? Why or why not? If they had told you, would that have made any difference? Explain.<\/div>\n<p>Now think for a minute about how you responded in these scenarios. Did your mental image in the first scenario involve a negative stereotype? What images in the media or society might have contributed to that response? The second and third scenarios involve simple situations in which you couldn\u2019t help but note some difference between you and another person. What might you feel in such situations in real life? Again, there is no right answer, and an awareness of differences is normal and natural even if it may cause some discomfort at first. On the other hand, if you have had significant experiences with diverse others, you might have read these scenarios and simply wondered, \u201cSo what? What\u2019s the big deal?\u201d It\u2019s worthwhile thinking about what that means.<\/p>\n<p>Steps we can take to further value diversity include the following:<\/p>\n<p><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Honor differences among people.<\/strong> Some people try so hard to avoid stereotyping that they go to the other extreme and try to avoid seeing any differences at all among people, but as we have seen throughout this chapter, people are different in many ways. We should accept that truth\u00a0if we are to experience the benefits of diversity.<\/p>\n<p><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Avoid\u00a0generalizations about individuals.<\/strong> As an extension of not stereotyping any group, also don\u2019t think of any individual person in terms of group characteristics. People are individuals first, members of a group second.\u00a0Be open minded and treat everyone with respect as an individual with his or her own ideas, attitudes, and preferences.<\/p>\n<p><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Develop cultural sensitivity for communication.<\/strong> Realize that your words may not mean quite the same thing in different cultural contexts or to individuals from different backgrounds. You should generally avoid slang words until you are sure the other person will know what you mean, and never try to use expressions you think are common in the cultural group of the person you are speaking with. Similarly, since body language often varies among different cultures, avoid strong gestures\u00a0until the responses of the other person signify he or she will not misinterpret the messages sent by your body language.<\/p>\n<p><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Take advantage of campus opportunities to increase your cultural awareness.<\/strong> Your college likely has multiculturalism courses or workshops you can sign up for. Special events, cultural fairs and celebrations, concerts, and other programs are held frequently on most campuses. There may also be opportunities to participate in group travel to other countries or regions of cultural diversity.<\/p>\n<p><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Take the initiative in social interactions.<\/strong> Even when we\u2019re open minded and want to learn about others different from ourselves, it often seems easier and more comfortable to interact with others of the same age, cultural group, and so on. If we don\u2019t make\u00a0efforts to meet others, however, we miss a great opportunity to learn and broaden our horizons. Next time you\u2019re looking around\u00a0for someone to ask about a class you missed or to study together for a test or group project, choose someone different from you in some way. Making friends with others of different backgrounds is often one of the most fulfilling experiences of college students.<\/p>\n<h2>Take a Stand against Prejudice and Hate<\/h2>\n<p>Unfortunately prejudice and hate still exist in America, even on college campuses. All campuses have policies against all forms of prejudice and discriminatory behaviors, but\u00a0fighting prejudice and hate is\u00a0the responsibility\u00a0of all\u00a0citizens who take seriously the\u00a0American value of equality for all people.<\/p>\n<p>The following are some things\u00a0you as a college student can\u00a0do to take a stand:<\/p>\n<ul id=\"lochhaas-ch09_s02_s03_s02_l01\" class=\"im_itemizedlist im_editable im_block\">\n<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\"><a href=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images-archive-read-only\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/560\/2015\/04\/21142850\/lawn-party.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-601\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images-archive-read-only\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/560\/2015\/04\/21142850\/lawn-party-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Group of young adults laying on a lawn\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" \/><\/a>Decide that it does matter.<\/strong> Prejudice threatens us all, not just the particular group being discriminated against in a specific incident. Don\u2019t stand on the sidelines. We can all do something.<\/li>\n<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Talk with others.<\/strong> Communication has great value on campuses. Let others know how you feel about any acts of prejudice or hatred\u00a0you may\u00a0witness. The more everyone openly condemns such behavior, the less likely it is to reappear in the future. If you hear another student telling a racist joke or putting down the opposite sex, speak up and tell the person you find such statements offensive.<\/li>\n<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Report incidents you observe.<\/strong> If you happen to see someone spray-painting a hateful slogan, for example, be a good citizen and report it to the appropriate campus office or\u00a0a Public Safety\u00a0officer.<\/li>\n<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Support student groups working for change. <\/strong>Show your support for groups and activities that celebrate diversity and condemn prejudice. Even if you&#8217;re shy,\u00a0your attendance at a parade or gathering lends support. You could write a letter to the editor in\u00a0the student newspaper, help hand out leaflets for an upcoming rally, or put up posters on campus. America has a great tradition of college students banding together to help solve social problems, and you can be part of the solution.<\/li>\n<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Celebrate diversity.<\/strong> In many ways, you can learn more about diversity through campus programs and activities. The more all students participate, the closer the campus will come to being free of prejudice and hate. Be a role model in how you act and what you say in relation to diversity, and you may have more effect on others than you realize.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 class=\"im_title im_editable im_block\">Dealing with Prejudice<\/h2>\n<p>If you yourself experience prejudice or discrimination related to your race or ethnicity, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion, or any other aspect of diversity, don\u2019t just try to ignore it or accept it as something that cannot be changed. As discussed earlier, college students can do much to minimize intolerance on campus. Many overt forms of discrimination are\u00a0 illegal and against college policies. You owe it to yourself to report it to the appropriate college authority.<\/p>\n<p>You can also attack prejudice in other ways. Join a campus organization that works to reduce prejudice or start a new group and discuss ways you can confront the problem and work for a solution. Seek solidarity with other groups. Organize positive celebrations and events to promote understanding. Write an article for a campus publication explaining the values of diversity and condemning intolerance.<\/p>\n<p>What if you are directly confronted by an individual or group making racist or other discriminatory remarks? In an emotionally charged situation, rational dialogue may be difficult or impossible, and a shouting match or name-calling seldom is productive. If the person may have made an offensive remark inadvertently or because of a misunderstanding, then you may be able to calmly explain the problem with what they said or did. Hopefully the person will apologize and learn from the experience, but if the person made the remark or acted that way intentionally, confronting this negative person directly may be difficult and not have a positive outcome. Most important, take care that the situation does not escalate in the direction of violence. Reporting the incident instead to college authorities may better serve the larger purpose of working toward harmony and tolerance.<\/p>\n<div class=\"bcc-box bcc-success\">\n<h3>Key Takeaways<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Diversity refers to a great variety of human characteristics and ways in which people differ.<\/li>\n<li>Diversity in the college environment has\u00a0benefits for all students, faculty, and others. Students learn more in a diverse setting, are better prepared for the future, and contribute more fully in positive ways to society.<\/li>\n<li>Multiculturalism involves respecting the ideas, feelings, behaviors, and experiences of those who are different from oneself in any way. Colleges promote both diversity in the student body and multiculturalism among all students.<\/li>\n<li>As an individual, each of us can gain the benefits of diversity as we challenge our own stereotypes, understand and celebrate differences in others, and learn to interact well with\u00a0those different from ourselves. Take advantage of campus opportunities to increase your cultural awareness and to form social relationships with diverse others.<\/li>\n<li>Although we would hope that all college campuses would be free of hate and discrimination, it can become necessary to take a stand against prejudice.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t <section class=\"citations-section\" role=\"contentinfo\">\n\t\t\t <h3>Candela Citations<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t <div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <div id=\"citation-list-117\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <div class=\"licensing\"><div class=\"license-attribution-dropdown-subheading\">CC licensed content, Original<\/div><ul class=\"citation-list\"><li>Revision and adaptation. <strong>Provided by<\/strong>: Monroe Community College. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.monroecc.edu\">http:\/\/www.monroecc.edu<\/a>. <strong>Project<\/strong>: College Orientation and Success. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/4.0\/\">CC BY-NC-SA: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike<\/a><\/em>. <strong>License Terms<\/strong>: Monroe contributes its revision and adaptation under the same license as the original work.<\/li><\/ul><div class=\"license-attribution-dropdown-subheading\">CC licensed content, Shared previously<\/div><ul class=\"citation-list\"><li>Success in College. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: anonymous. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/2012books.lardbucket.org\/\">http:\/\/2012books.lardbucket.org\/<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/4.0\/\">CC BY-NC-SA: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike<\/a><\/em><\/li><li>Image of leaves. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: darwin Bell. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/ovchB\">https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/ovchB<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc\/4.0\/\">CC BY-NC: Attribution-NonCommercial<\/a><\/em><\/li><li>Image of snowflakes. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: Alexey Kljatov. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/paCYy3\">https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/paCYy3<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc\/4.0\/\">CC BY-NC: Attribution-NonCommercial<\/a><\/em><\/li><li>Image of wooden blocks. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: Dr. Bashi. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/paCYy3\">https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/paCYy3<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/4.0\/\">CC BY-SA: Attribution-ShareAlike<\/a><\/em><\/li><li>Image of students on lawn. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: Les Roches International School of Hotel Management. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/fZ1PM3\">https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/fZ1PM3<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/\">CC BY: Attribution<\/a><\/em><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t <\/section>","protected":false},"author":9,"menu_order":1,"template":"","meta":{"_candela_citation":"[{\"type\":\"cc\",\"description\":\"Success in College\",\"author\":\"anonymous\",\"organization\":\"\",\"url\":\"http:\/\/2012books.lardbucket.org\/\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"cc-by-nc-sa\",\"license_terms\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"cc\",\"description\":\"Image of leaves\",\"author\":\"darwin Bell\",\"organization\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/ovchB\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"cc-by-nc\",\"license_terms\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"cc\",\"description\":\"Image of 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