Perspective on Diversity and Culture

Culture is......
Social behavior specific to groups of people
Behavior that contributes to differences

Diversity is......
Differences
Unique qualities specific to a group or groups of people

These definitions are broad enough that they do not omit or exclude anything specifically. However, they are not clear cut in that they are not specific. They leave room for question.
Diversity is essentially just that differences and all of the things that make people uniques. Diversity includes but is not limited to, race/ethnicity, religion, and gender, etc., again all of the things that make us different.

Culture is who we are and the things that makeup who we are. Culture is the music we listen to, the way we dress, the food we eat, and more.

Other people definitions and ideas about culture and diversity are pretty much on the same page. I feel that limiting the definitions and making the definitions more specific would take away and limit all possible meanings of the word.

My Family Culture

• A major catastrophe has almost completely devastated the infrastructure of your country. The emergency government has decided that the surviving citizens will be best served if they are evacuated to other countries willing to take refugees. You and your immediate family are among the survivors of this catastrophic event. However, you have absolutely no input into the final destination or in any other evacuation details. You are told that your host country’s culture is completely different from your own, and that you might have to stay there permanently. You are further told that, in addition to one change of clothes, you can only take 3 small items with you. You decide to take three items that you hold dear and that represent your family culture.
• 
  
• A description of the three items you would choose
• How you would explain to others what each of these items means to you
• Your feelings if, upon arrival, you were told that you could only keep one personal item and have to give up the other two items you brought with you
• Any insights you gained about yourself, your family culture, diversity, and/or cultural differences in general, as a result of this exercise.

A Bible, a family photo of my husband myself and our children, and a pair of pearl earrings are Items that I would bring along with me if I had to evacuate to another country. The Bible is the tool I use when I am in need of peace and comfort. With my Bible I don't need to have fear in my hear. My Bible reminds me that God is with me no matter where I am or what I happening around me. My family is my lifeline. The picture of my family represents love, unconditional, unwavering love with a splash of chaos. I like to look good and I cannot truly feel like myself without earrings. Earings for me, represent aesthetics and the way I value appearance.

If told I could only keep one personal item I would keep the picture of my family and write my favorite scripture on the back. Without my family I have nothing.


This exercise has helped me understand the value of family and this weeks topic has helped me form the link between family and culture.