Diversity Appreciation

Presented by

Iowa Civil Rights Commission

What is Culture?

What is Diversity?

Why does it matter?

What can I do?

What is Diversity?

The differences which make us each unique

Recognizing the differences until the differences don’t make a difference anymore

All of our differences and similarities

What does Diversity Include?

Age Race Religion Gender National Origin Disability All of our differences and similarities

What is Culture?

Culture refers to all the accepted and patterned ways of behavior of a group of a given people. It is a body of common understanding. It is the sum total of the organization of arrangement of all the group’s ways of thinking, feeling, and acting.

Cultural Differences

Visual

Subconscious

First Thoughts

Caucasians are...

Gays are…

Lesbians are…

Native Americans are…

Teenagers are...

Men Are...

Women are…

African-Americans are…

Latinos are…

Asians are…

Factors Which Interfere With Diversity Appreciation

Stereotypes

Prejudice

Discrimination

Stereotype

A misconception about an individual or group based on the belief that all people in a given group will act in the same way.

Example: “All …………………….are lazy”.

Prejudice

An irrational suspicion or hatred of a particular group, race, or religion

Making up your mind about what a person or group is like before you get to know them

Discrimination

The act of giving unequal treatment to

an individual or group of people

because they are members of a certain

culture or race, or because of other

differences. People are denied equal

opportunities because of their

differences.

Attitudes or Behaviors

Training involves teaching a person to perform a new skill, learn a body of knowledge, and display a new attitude.

Forklift – 80% skill, 10% knowledge, 10% attitude

Spreadsheet – 20% skill, 70% knowledge, 10% attitude

Diversity – 15% skill, 10% knowledge, 75% attitude

Developing an atmosphere in which it is safe for all employees to ask for help

Actively seeking information from people from a variety of backgrounds and cultures

Including people who are different than you in informal gatherings such as lunch, coffee breaks, and spur of the moment meetings

Creating a team spirit of which every member feels a part

Diversity Appreciation in a Business Environment

Recognizing, appreciating, valuing, and utilizing the unique talents and contributions of all

individuals.

Iowa Civil Rights Commission

Grimes State Office Building

Des Moines, Iowa 50319

515-281-4121

800-457-4416

FAX 515-242-5840

http://www.state.ia.us/government/crc