Diversity means recognizing that each individual is unique. Each individual possess a difference from the next individual. The differences include ethnicity, gender, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, age, physical abilities, political beliefs, religious beliefs and difference in ideologies (Essed, 1996). When individuals explore these differences positively in an environment that allows it, the individuals will understand each other and they will live together in harmony. The diverse cultures, origins and language make people to treat other individuals in lesser regard. In America, the skin color brings the obvious difference. People classify themselves as either black American or white Americans. Other countries like Brazil use various types of terms that describe the combination of facial features, skin color and hair texture (Schaefer, 2012). Diversity is valued because the various groupings in the society have a role to play. It is through understanding and appreciating that all people are different and have something special to offer to the society.
Ethnocentrism is the use of our own beliefs, culture and practices to measure the beliefs, norms and values of other people. It is simply viewing own culture as superior compared to the culture of others. Ethnocentrism promotes negative judgment of the values, norms and beliefs that are different from own culture (Wood, 2011). Ethnocentrism lead a group of people to dominate over and abuse other groups deemed to be the minority. There is no diversity in groups that are ethnocentric. Ethnocentrism leads the group not to have innovation because the people believe in a certain way to do things. There is no exchange of new ideas between two groups because one group may evaluate another group basing on their own beliefs and norms and miss the positive aspects of the other group. This leads poor development of the highly ethnocentric groups. The group might be using outdated methods of doing things and this will lead to extinction.
Emigration is the movement of people from one country to another country. There are many reasons why people emigrate and the major reasons include to improve the quality of life and to increase the chances of getting better employment. The emigration affects the economy of the country because when people move from their country they reduce the labor available for that country (Smith, 1997). The other country benefits because its labor force is increased. Immigration is the process whereby people come to live in a country that is not their own.
People identify themselves in a number of ways. Ethnicity is ways people identify people basing on their cultural patterns and national origin for example in United States the ethnic groups include the Cubans, Mexican Americans and Latin Americans. Religious grouping is another way people identify themselves. The religious groups include the Muslims, Protestants, Buddhism and Hinduism (Yanow, 2003). Gender is another way individuals identify themselves. Males are the people considered to hold the majority of positions in the society. Women face discrimination and prejudice in terms of jobs and other positions in the society. People label each other in the society to satisfy themselves and make them feel better. They lower the other group to gain confidence by giving them a bad name. Stereotyping is a cause of people to label other groups in the society.
Culture is a term that describes the indoctrination of the human mind that separates the members of one set of group from those of another set of group (Wagner, 2009). The difference in culture is not limited to racial and ethnic backgrounds. Culture extends to differences in values, beliefs, norms, symbols e.g. language. Culture is available in every society and affects how people relate and treat each other.
References
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Essed, P. (1996). Diversity: Gender, color, and culture. Amherst: Univ. of Massachusetts Press.
Schaefer, R. T. (2012). Race and ethnic groups (13th ed.). United States of America: Merrill Prentice Hall.
Bottom of Form
Smith, J. P. (1997). The new Americans: Economic, demographic, and fiscal effects of immigration. Washington, D.C: National Acad. Press.
Wagner, T. (2009). Foreign market entry and culture. München: Grin Verlag GmbH.
Wood, J. T. (2011). Communication in our lives. Belmont, Calif: Wadsworth.
Yanow, D. (2003). Constructing "race" and "ethnicity" in America: Category-making in public policy and administration. Armonk, NY [u.a.: Sharpe.
