Benefits of Understanding Diversity Concepts and Research

There exists no precise description for the term diversity. In fact, its definition varies from one person to another. However, a majority of scholars agree that it is the similarities and differences existing among humans. Gardenswartz and Rowe designed a model famously known as the “Four Layers of Diversity” which include the organizational and external dimensions. The other two segments include the internal and personality aspects. The understanding of diversity is essential in an individual’s home, social and work life. Working in a diversified workplace offers one a platform to learn from other cultures and traditions among other factors that differ from their own. Additionally, one can earn respect from colleagues based on their background and not attempt to ‘fit in’ with the dominant group. One can also be able to cope in a diversified home by understanding the different backgrounds represented in the home and help children accommodate everyone even while at school. In the society level, having enough information concerning various people and their ethnicities and culture can contribute to improving cohabitation and reduce strife.

In this era of globalization that has facilitated multiculturalism in nearly all states around the world, one would presume that the theory of diversity has a precise description. Instead, the explanation of diversity varies from an individual to another, a firm to another, and from one scholar to the other. While some believe diversity focuses on religion, disability status, gender, and race, others extend it to body image, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status.

It is, therefore, imperative for an individual to understand the concept of diversity to help with their home, social and work lives. This paper identifies the importance of understanding the research, theories, and concepts of diversity in areas such as home, work, and social life. Additionally, this work provides the most significant benefit and surprising information learned in this course.
Diversity, as Wellner (2000) idealized, represents a multitude of various similarities and distinctions existing among humans. Diversity can include various human traits including ethnicity, religion, creed, age, race, sexual orientation, and national origin. Gardenswartz, and Rowe (2003) explain diversity as comprising of four layers including the organizational, external, internal, and personality dimensions. The organizational aspect embodies the remotest layer comprising of features like union association, management status, seniority, work location and field, divisional unit and functional level classification. The organization in which one works has control over this layer and therefore, individual workers have limited influence. The external dimension covers features that involve a person’s life choices; thus, a person has increased control over the traits highlighted in this layer (Gardenswartz and Rowe 2003). Elements represented here include recreational and personal habits, status, educational background, appearance, work experience, religion, geographic location, marital status and income.
In contrast, a person exercises limited to no control in internal dimension as the traits are dispensed at birth and include attributes such as ethnicity, race, age, physical ability, and gender. It is important noting that these features tend to be potential sources of discrimination and prejudice. The most inner layer is the personality dimension. A personality is an individual’s stable trait that determines specific steadiness in how they behave in a particular circumstance over time. The other three indicated levels of the model impact a person’s personality as they contribute n designing someone’s disposition, perception, and actions as they interrelate with their surrounding Gardenswartz and Rowe (2003). Based on this description of diversity, how does its understanding help in the home, social and work life?
Work Life
The past century has seen countries around the world become more heterogeneous than before as a result of large-scale migration and the embrace of globalization. As a result, the workforce demographics changed and continued to shift as international markets continue to emerge. The changes have highlighted the significance of workplace diversity not only to the company but also to individual employees. It is evident that workers obtain substantial and insubstantial gains from workplace including business benefits as well as respect from co-workers. It is, therefore clear that workplace diversity is an ongoing development particularly in today’s world and hence understanding its concept can help an individual improve their work relations with colleagues. Australian Multicultural Foundation (2010) acknowledges the significance of understanding diversity and suggests it to be the best way for employees and companies to manage effectively. Additionally, having a clear and comprehensive perceptive will help avoid instances of discrimination and inequality as Gardenswartz and Rowe (2003) suggest.
Whether one decides to be an entrepreneur or an employee, comprehensive perceptive of diversity is necessary. In fact, studies show that organizations that have diverse workforce perform increasingly well due to tapping a variety of ideas and strategies from these individuals (Nelson 2014). Additionally, Williams and Barenbau (2012) indicate that workforce diversity is a necessity and not simply a way of obeying the law. Similar emphasis applies from the employee’s perspective in which one would require having background information on different areas of their co-workers to ensure no conflict arise among them.
Home Life
Similar to workplace diversity whereby the workforce constitutes people from different backgrounds and cultures, some homes tend to be diverse in various forms. For example, interracial marriages comprise of two families of dissimilar ethnicities and races. Additionally, families have other elements considered vital in diversity such as age, gender, and socioeconomic status among others. Families with different traditions and cultures assign different roles and responsibilities to different members based on their age and gender (Turner, Kim, Sherif and Woolfolk 2001). Therefore, being conversant with diversity can help reduce instances of conflict among family members and help promote peace and inclusion. For example, while some culture reserve special roles to specific genders, others do not and thus understanding such details may potentially prevent the occurrence of preventable disagreements. Additionally, creating an inclusive environment at home sets a profound effect on children who extend similar understanding while at school. As a result, children will be able to extend their understanding of multiculturalism while at school and reach their potential without fear (Knowles and Holmstrom 2013).
Social Life
As indicated earlier, diversity includes differences and similarities that humans have. Understanding diversity, hence, means being aware and accepting of other characteristics that other people exhibit that are different or similar to one’s own. Diversity witnessed in the current world is as a result of people becoming more accepting of their distinctive features and an inclination and decision to uphold and recognize their traits instead of trying to fit in through assimilation (Pennsylvania State University 2001). Having a culturally competent mindset that accepts diversity is vital in today’s society in that it assists in eliminating barriers that exist or potential disagreements in common places such as service providing units like hospitals and schools. Therefore, one can provide required assistance without exhibiting any form of inequality particularly to persons perceived to belong to minority groups. University of Delaware (2003) points out a remarkable statement “to value diversity is to respect human worth.” Moreover, systems become stronger when they identify and value the differing backgrounds of the people they serve and their personnel (University of Delaware 2003). Recognition and awareness of community diversity in every aspect is imperative in ensuring an efficient system in society. Therefore, understanding all these areas will promote a stronger societal relation and avoid strife.
Benefit of the Course
The concept of diversity stood out as the most important part of this study specifically due to its immense relevance in the contemporary world. Additionally, the fact that the United States among other nations internationally will continue to diversify in all aspects makes this topic something to put extra attention to avoid unnecessary conflict as well as benefit from it. Also, one has an unambiguous comprehension of the different ethnicities that constitute the modern America, their respective backgrounds and the protection accorded to each one by the U.S. Constitution. It was also beneficial learning about how one can embrace diversity for its advantage in different areas including workplaces, learning institutions as well as at home. In fact, I learned that organizations that embrace diversity performs better in sectors such as returns, turnover rates, and overall performance compared to homogenous ones. And although I would not encourage pluralism due to its possibility of developing discrimination and inequality, it is important for people to accept who they are and uphold their distinctiveness instead of assimilating and becoming a people they are not.
Most Surprising Information
Despite the passing of various bills into law in the U.S. Constitution several decades ago, the issue of diversity is still a critical topic. Discrimination, perpetrated while conscious or unconscious is still persistent as evidenced by social classes, gender, and ethnicity where the minority groups suffer the most. And although people throughout the world pride in being participants of globalization and advancement in technologies, it is a pity that prejudice is still evident. What was most surprising is the fact that Whites still dominate despite being the primary perpetrators of Black slavery and forced Native Americans off their land. Additionally, discrimination against women is as well visible with a majority of women still earning less than their male counterpart and holding lesser and fewer positions in male dominated systems. However, it was noteworthy that the current situation is not as similar as the case was about half a century ago and one can only foresee that there is a possibility for improvement in the future.
References
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Multicultural Foundation. Retrieved from http://amf.net.au/library/uploads/files/MCD_Training_Program_Resource_Manual.pdfUniversity of Delaware. (2003). Understanding and Embracing Diversity in our World. Center
for Disabilities Studies. Retrieved from https://www1.udel.edu/cds/downloads/delAwarespring03.pdfGardenswartz, L. and Rowe, A. (2003) Diverse Teams at Work: Capitalizing on the Power of
Diversity. Alexandria: Society of Human Resource Management.
Knowles G. & Holmstrom R. (2013). Understanding Family Diversity and Home- School
Relations: A guide for Students and Practitioners in Early Years and Primary Settings. Routeledge.
NELSON, B. (2014). The Data on Diversity. Communications Of The ACM, 57(11), 86-95.
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Pennsylvania State University (2001). An Overview of Diversity Awareness. Information and
Communication Technologies in the College of Agricultural Sciences. 1-11. Retrieved from http://extension.psu.edu/publications/ui362Turner K., Kim S., Sherif B. and Woolfolk T. (2001). Diversity in Families: Exploration in
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Wellner A. (2000) How do you spell diversity? Training 37 (2000) pp.34-38.Williams C. & Barenbau G. (2012). A Diverse Profession is Built by All. Pennsylvania CPA
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