He is an American in his later fifties. He likes reading especially in history. His interesting is the first centurial history of German. He speaks English and German. I am starting learn him, and that’s the reason I chose him to give me his definition of culture and diversity. He told me the diversity and culture are something related the workforce, a fascinating culture mix to the workplace. For example, Asian, Hispanic, and African American is becoming the majority employees in the hospitality industry.
He is an American in his later sixties. He is a Christian ministration involve Chinese students and visiting scholars. He speaks English. He is the leader and teacher of my bible study group. When I asked what his definition of culture and diversity is, he told me, “Culture is the common understanding within a community of relationship and accepted norms. Diversity is the identifiable differences among people based on culture and ethnic background”.
Janet Gonzalez-Mena said, “Culture is a set of unconscious rules that govern everything" (Laureate Education, 2011)
Culture is how a group of people lives. “Artifacts, costumes, foods, holidays, language, values, extended family relationship, migration, work, housing arrangements, community connection, intergenerational relationships, ideas about education, recreation, health care, gender roles, role of children, religion, showing emotion, and historic event are elements of culture "(Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010).
The word of culture I heard the first time was from my mom when I was a teenager, I believe. When an issue came out in our community, people did not do things correct in the sight of our society, my mom would criticize and say “they did not have a culture”. My understanding from my mom was the people did not have common knowledge to do things right. They did not know what they suppose do according to the common understanding of the society. Culture is common sense of knowledge for how people live within a sociality or a country.
The word “diversity” I first heard was from our company’s orientation training in 2007. The activity still remains in my mind. The new employees were divided to groups. 4 people were assigned in each group. 3 people were labeled as red and 1 was labeled green. The red members were told they could use any way to forbid the green member entering their circle. The green member was told (s)he might use any way to get in the red circle. If the green member successes enter the red people’s circle, then green win. Otherwise, lose. The time was 10 min. After the game or activity was over. There were winning and losing. For the losing groups, nobody felt happy. The red members (I was one among three) felt we were not nice to the green people, even we were winner. We were told by the green that she felt rejected, not acceptable, very sad. In the activity, the red and green represent the diversity in the group. Diversity is the difference among groups people based on their cutlure.
Sara
ReplyDeletethe people that you identify in the blog give a deeper understanding of culture and diversity. you do not give them name but is help to know what people try to accomplish within a diversity environment. The activity is the way many of the people that come to American and looked on in American culture today. thank you for the information on culture
Sara,
ReplyDeleteDo you still agree with your mothers definition of culture "common sense of knowledge for how people live"? Often friends of I joke to each other about not being cultured but it is strictly related to events, music, and the arts, not about the deeper meaning of culture. That was an interesting activity you had to participate in. I wonder how that made you understand the difference of diversity aside from how not to treat people. I have found that many people are still unclear of the true definition of diversity, as many relate it solely to classification of race ethnicity or a characteristic that can be visually identified.
Hello Thomas,
DeleteMy mom's definition seems some part right. It's easy to understand under certain circumstantial cases. Common sense of knowledge might refer to the norm rather than the laws of the country or regulations/policies of the company, which one can use to punish the person who did not do the thing right. Yes, I definitely agree with you that joys to each other about not being cultured happen among friends. Sometimes, it does relate to deep culture. For example, according to an America culture: "a single woman should not visit single man's home and should not allow single man to visit her home", if a single woman visits a single man home, the woman would be joyed as not being cultured. This is the deep culture related the element of relationship.
Sara,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your post. The definitions given were presented differently yet similiar. I also thought that the insight on your first experience with the word "culture" was interesting. Did you fully understand what you mother meant when she used the word or did you just assume that you know what she meant? Most of the time parents will make statements without fully explaining themselves and if you are from a certain background you dare not to question them. Great post and thanks for sharing.
Hello Mrazor,
DeleteI am sure I did not understand when I was young. However, the word "Culture" has been impressed me so deep that I can recall it whenever someone did not do thing correctly to "not be cultured". Thank you for responsing.