Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

This week I had the opportunity to deepen my understanding of culture and diversity by listening to and then reflecting on the ideas of others:

My husband Steve’s definition of culture is the way people celebrate holidays. He describes diversity as different ethnicities within a group (such as a school).

My cousin Tracy’s definition of culture is how you experience life. “We each experience truth from our own perspective and the facts are somewhere in the middle. Diversity is being willing and vulnerable enough to try to see someone else’s experience through their lens, not mine. One thing I have realized is that I will never be truly culturally competent because I will never fully experience what others have experienced.” 

My friend and co-worker Susy took these questions very seriously and sent me the following text with her definitions of culture and diversity: “Culture and diversity means understanding that each individual is unique and recognizing our distinctive differences. This includes race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, economic status, etc. In my opinion, culture is a strong part of our lives because it influences our values, our humor, our hopes, worries and fears. But as I explore culture and diversity, it is also important to remember how much we have in common. I grew up in a small town, and probably see the world very differently than someone who grew up in the city, but we both know what it is like to wake up in the morning and look forward to the adventures of the day. We are human beings and love deeply, want to learn, have hopes and dreams, and most importantly have experienced pain and fear. Sometimes we don’t think or understand other cultures until we start working with people and building relationships with them. It helps to have some perspective and understanding of their cultures.”

“Surface culture” immediately came to mind when I listened to my husband’s definitions of culture and diversity. Three weeks ago I may not have been as shocked by his answers, but now that I have a deeper understanding of culture and diversity, I wanted to look at him and say “Seriously?” I had to stop myself and ask him if he would like to do some reading... I really enjoy our text, “Anti-Bias Education for Young Children and Ourselves” (Derman-Sparks & Olsen Edwards, 2010) and believe it should be in every household throughout America!

Tracy is a passionate lifelong learner. She holds four advanced degrees and is currently working on a fifth. Her comment about the facts being somewhere in the middle reminds me of the “third space” described by Derman Sparks. When we value the beliefs and cultural identities of ourselves and others, we can “meet” somewhere in the middle with a healthy compromise that everyone feels comfortable with.

I am so happy that I asked Susy to participate in this assignment. I honestly had no idea that she would open up and give such personal answers to my questions. I hired Susy to work in my preschool three years ago. Sense then I have learned that she immigrated to America when she was twelve. Susy’s mother was forced to leave Mexico because of violence that had already taken the lives of her father, uncle, and two brothers. Susy was hidden in a convent before leaving her country. When Susy says that we all know pain and fear, I truly can’t imagine the depth her family has experienced. One of my favorite things to do with my employees is take them out to dinner where we not only laugh with joy about our experience working with children, but also get to know one another on a much deeper level. I have learned so much about their cultures and identities by simply listening.  

References

Derman-Sparks, L. & Olsen Edwards, J. (2010) Anti-bias education for young children and ourselves. National Association for the Education of Young Children