I gathered a few of my family members and friends to get
their basic definitions of culture and diversity. Here is what they said:
Mom -
Culture: the surroundings that you live in, what
influences the way you live
Diversity: a group of many different cultures, with
different ethnicities or you are open to other ideas
Boyfriend -
Culture: an upbringing and surrounding environment
reflecting customs, traditions, and general lively hood
Diversity: the stuff that makes us different
Casey –
Culture: traditions passed down from generation to
generation
Diversity: differences in people in terms of race,
ethnicity, culture
Each of my family members and friends has a good foundational
knowledge of culture and diversity. They all mentioned influences and
environment in their definition of culture. As we have studied culture is the
way a particular group of people live. Including, but not limited to, eating,
sleeping, talking, playing, caring for sick, relating to one another, religion,
gestures, and all other life practices. None of my family members or friends differentiated
between surface or deep culture, although I didn’t ask them to. Actually, when
asked for their definitions they were reluctant to participate and even bashful
after giving their answers. Two of them asked me if they “did alright” and “sounded
smart”, which I found interesting that they were daunted at this seemingly
simple question. Perhaps, because it is not a topic we discuss on a regular
basis, or at all outside of education and politics it can then make people feel
uncomfortable from lack of knowledge about the subject or the lack of practice
talking about it.
Whitney,
ReplyDeleteIt is always interesting to see how people will respond to these types of requests. Before I got responses I was asked how much do I have to say.
Whitney,
ReplyDeleteYour mom and my mom gave very similar definitions of culture, and I agree with Patricia about how interesting to see what people say for their different definitions. I personally feel that people are hesitant to discuss culture and diversity because it might bring up strong emotions and feelings about how they feel about their own culture and they do not want those emotions to offend anyone.