The Blind Men and The Elephant

A Parable About Diversity

It was six men of IndostanTo learning much inclined,

Who went to see the Elephant(Though all of them were blind)

That each by observationMight satisfy his mind.

The First approached the Elephant,And happening to fall

Against his broad and sturdy side,At once began to bawl:

"God bless me! but the ElephantIs very like a wall!"

What is Diversity?

The state of being different or diverse. When used to

describe people and population groups, diversityencompasses such factors as:• Age• Gender• Race• Ethnicity• Ability• Religion• Education• Sexuality• Professional background• Marital status• Parental status Girl Scouts of

the USA

What is Diversity?

• Diversity refers to all of the characteristics that make individuals different from each other. LeadingEdition, Purdue University

• Cultural Diversity: The mosaic of individuals and groups with varying backgrounds, experiences, styles, perceptions, values and beliefs.

Institute for Cultural Partnerships

Why is Diversity Important?

Consider the principle of ecology:Diversity increases the viability of anecosystem and without it a system is more susceptible to external attack suchas from a single predator, a particularvirus or a change in climate. Global Winners, 1994

Why is Diversity Education Important?

• The world is constantly changing. Diversity requires adaptability, flexibility and global thinking – we are global citizens.

• Global thinking is learning about and understanding systems and the way systems work together:Self, family, school, community

StateCountryWorld

• Helps mitigate conflict

The Second, feeling of the tusk, Cried, "Ho! what have we here?

So very round and smooth and sharp?To me 'tis mighty clear

This wonder of an ElephantIs very like a spear!“

The Third approached the animal,And happening to take

The squirming trunk within his hands, Thus boldly up and spake:

"I see," quoth he, "the ElephantIs very like a snake!"

What is Global Citizenship?

• We are all part of the larger, global system. Engaging as a productive citizen means developing knowledge, attitudes and skills necessary to interact effectively.

• Reflects interdependence

• Requires knowing, understanding and managing our relationships with others (cultural awareness) And My World, University of

Nebraska

Cultural Awareness

• Understand ourselves• Understand similarities• Understand differences• Develop empathy• Learn to listen• Eliminate stereotypes, prejudice &

discrimination• Adapt a willingness to change• Appreciate complexity, critical

thinking

Understand Ourselves

Who are you?Where do you come from?What are your values?

Do your values reflect what you were told as a child?Do your values reflect what you see on television, hear on the radio or read in the newspaper?Are your values changeable?

Understand Similarities

• How are you the same as the person sitting next to you?

• How are you the same as someone from California?

• How are you the same as someone from India?

• What is the “human condition?”

Understand Differences

• How are you different from the person sitting next to you?

• Difference is a variation on a theme, not a deviation from the norm Teaching Diversity, 1997

• Your perspective is one of many

• Cultural objectivity and subjectivityObjectivity is what you see, hear, tasteSubjectivity is your experience of people’s values, beliefs, patterns of thinking

Empathy & Listening

• Use active listening skills

• Listen with an open mind

• Develop the ability to “put yourself in someone else’s shoes” instead of relating events to your own experiences (sympathy)

• Understanding and knowing is not the same as liking

The Fourth reached out an eager hand, And felt about the knee.

"What most this wondrous beast is likeIs mighty plain," quoth he;

"'Tis clear enough the ElephantIs very like a tree!"

The Fifth who chanced to touch the ear,Said: "E'en the blindest man

Can tell what this resembles most; Deny the fact who can,

This marvel of an ElephantIs very like a fan!"

Stereotyping

• Stereotypes are perceptions based on mental images (personal experience) or on what others have told us (learned)

• Implies rigid thinking

• Not the same as categorizing or generalizing

• Discrimination occurs because of it

• What are some of your stereotypes?

Thought Processes

• Think in gray rather than black & white• Engage in critical thinking

seek evidence closely examine assumptionsanalyze conceptstrace implications of what is said & done“Only thinking that is comprehensive, well-reasoned and responsive to objections can

take us beyond the surface.” The Critical Thinking

Community

• Critical thinking does not mean rejection of established beliefs, only questioning those ideas that lack reasonable evidence

Why Worry About Diversity?

• Diversity training helps with conflict mediation

• Contributions – different people bring different ideas

• Enhanced communication skills

• Better understanding of self and changed self-perception A Globally Focused Extension Service

• Kids are learning it even if you don’t think it’s important

The Sixth no sooner had begun About the beast to grope,

Than, seizing on the swinging tailThat fell within his scope,

"I see," quoth he, "the ElephantIs very like a rope!

And so these men of Indostan Disputed loud and long,Each in his own opinion

Exceeding stiff and strong, Though each was partly in the right

And all were in the wrong!

Moral:

So oft in theologic wars,The disputants, I ween,

Rail on in utter ignoranceOf what each other mean,

And prate about an Elephant Not one of them has seen!

-John Godfrey Saxe

This poem is a newer version of an ancient Indian tale

References

Andrews, M., A globally focused extension service. Michigan State University.

Andrews, M., The Interface between International and Multicultural: Findingsfrom the literature. Michigan State University.

And My World curriculum, University of NebraskaGallos, J.V., & Ramsey, V. J. (1997). Teaching Diversity. San Franciscof, CA:

Jossey-Bass.Drum, J., Hughes, S., & Otero, G. (1994). Global winners. Yarmouth, ME:

Intercultural Press.Kohls, L. R., & Knight, J. (1994). Developing intercultural awareness: A

crosscultural training handbook (2nd ed.). Yarmouth, ME: Intercultural Press.

Lamy, S., (1982). Teaching about ethnic conflict: Global issues. Colorado: University of Denver.

Morita, Y., (1994). Diversity awareness training guide. Oakland: University of California.

Seelye, H. N. (1996). Experiential activities for intercultural learning. Yarmouth, ME: Intercultural Press.

Smith, G., & Otero, G., (1989). Teaching about cultural awareness. Colorado: University of Denver.

Stringer, D., & Cassiday, P., (2003). 52 activities for exploring valuesdifferences. Yarmouth, ME: Intercultural Press.

The Critical Thinking Community at www.criticalthinking.org.