Diversity can be defined in many different ways. What does it mean to us?
Diversity is a commitment to recognizing and appreciating the variety of characteristics that make individuals unique in an atmosphere that promotes and celebrates individual and collective achievement.
Examples of these characteristics are: age; cognitive style; culture; disability (mental, learning, physical); economic background; education; ethnicity; gender identity; geographic background; language(s) spoken; marital/partnered status; physical appearance; political affiliation; race; religious beliefs; sexual orientation.
The University of Tennessee Libraries Diversity Committee
Spring 2001; Revised January 2003
I want you to define what diversity means to you.
To me, diversity is the factor that separates one person to the next. Everyone is different and have their own qualities that make them unique. Whether people know it or not, everyone has been discriminated against because they were of different diversity. It could be something as simple as hair color or something as serious as religion that people are discriminated for. Diversity is all around us we encounter it everyday and even in our own families, so the question that I have is; why is it so hard for us to accept diversity?
ReplyDeleteMaggie Carlson
To me diversity is what separates each person in their own ways. Yes everyone is a human and we really are all the same, but we have different things that divide us up into who we are. Diversity is apart of your everyday live, you deal with it everyday in some way. If its you being discriminated against because of your culture, age, height or something or if you are discriminating someone. I dont believe there is a way to get around it, people are going to have their opinions on people no matter what.
ReplyDeleteNikki Darker
What diversity means to me is understanding that each individual is unique,and recognizing our individual differences.Everyday we deal with diversity such as gender, race, sexual orientation, age, religious status, and physical abilities. Diversity is around us in schools, work, family lives. It is something that we can't get away from. Even though we are all humans, all of us are different in someway.
ReplyDeleteKatelyn Geib
To me, diversity is our differences. Each and every one of us is unique, special, and different in some way. It doesn't have to be something big like ethnicity or where you are from. It can be little things like physical appearance, what sports you like, and other small things that are just a part of you. It's sad that people discriminate against each other, because we should all be able to value the specific things that make us who we are. Even the little things count! But no matter where we go, there is going to be discrimination. We just have to take baby steps to change and acceptance and do our part to make a difference.
ReplyDeleteKristin Sorensen
In my opinion, diversity is the recognition and celebration of differences that occur in any matter whether that be physically, mentally, or psychologically. Our differences should not be avoided. They are what make us who we are as unique individuals in the world. I think it is important to live in a diverse world to understand people of all backgrounds and ways of life.
ReplyDeleteMichelle Fischer
In my mind, diversity is what distinguishes us from one another. Differences in our characteristics show parts of who we are; our varying ideas, beliefs, dreams, & appearances give us our identities. I don't believe these differences are meant to set us apart...they have the potential to do so, but they can also give rise to community & togetherness. When we accept & embrace these differences we can thrive & help one another. On the other hand, if we refuse to at least tolerate uniqueness it can create barriers that block communication and foster enmity. Despite the difficulty that comes with reaching across the borders that divide us, I believe that through diversity we can actually understand one another more. After all, we are brothers & sisters in humanity. We don’t have to be the same (rather, we would detest it due to our nature of easily becoming dissatisfied), & people from various walks of life can live together in harmony by honoring their differences while recognizing the connection they share as human beings (yes, you can do both). It is up to us to take a hold of the hands of one another, even if that hand is very peculiar to us. In the end, to me, diversity is truly beautiful and unifying.
ReplyDeleteMary~
Diversity, to me, means that everyone is unique and different. If everone was the same then the world would be one lonely boring place. I feel that diversity is extremely important and that it helps us understand the world around us. Everyone has a story, let it be known so that we can learn and get past our differences.
ReplyDeleteTia Lindberg
Diversity is having the respect for other people’s characteristics and uniqueness. There is tons of diversity in all cultures and if you learn to respect it, the atmosphere will be a lot better. There is absolutely no way everyone will be the same, that is why the word diversity is what it is, it’s because everyone is different in their own whether someone else likes it or not.
ReplyDeleteJake Turkowski
What diversity means to me is, different. We all are for sure different individuals; we come from a different background, neighborhood and family. This world would be boring without diversity.
ReplyDeleteKayla Heisler
Diversity is to have a community in which we have several group of races,sex, sexual orientation,etc, living together and cooperating and accepting one another. Diversity is to have a community with diverse culture, beliefs, values, and although we have our differences we accept and respect one another, that is what I think diversity means.
ReplyDeleteTia-
ReplyDeleteI agree with you when you say "If everone was the same then the world would be one lonely boring place."
Diversity is a good thing. It would be a very boring world if everyone were the same. It's good to be different and unique in your own way. It's what makes us, us. No two people are exactly the same.
Kristin Sorensen
I liked the statement that Mary made about how our differences can actually bring us together, they don't have to separate us and make us further apart. Diversity is about acknowledging our differences and bringing us closer together.
ReplyDeleteKatelyn Geib
Diversity is the differences in people. Its from color to age and even if your male or female. Everyone is different and diverse in their nown way. It can help bring us together and pull a community apart. It can be good and bad depending on the situation.
ReplyDeleteLane Noyes
Diversity is the unique differences society consists of. From anything like color to style to what activities you do. This is what makes America so special because we have the freedom to be as diverse as we want to. Like Lane stated it can be either good or bad.
ReplyDeleteJosh Kellner
To me diversity means...... understanding and accepting all the differences in a person that makes them the person they are! Many people believe that diversity has to be the big difference of people but really its the little things that really set us apart.
ReplyDeleteMaggie Dolan
Jake:
ReplyDeleteI really like how said, "Diversity is having the respect for other people’s characteristics and uniqueness." I thought the word RESPECT made this a message a lot more powerful. I think it is really important that we one our minds to everyone no matter how different. If we respect others, they will respect us!
Diversity to me is someone's ability to express themselves in a way that makes them most comfortable. If they like to wear different clothing and express that side of them, that is how they are making themselves different, standing out, and creating a diversity from others. Having an opinion and standing up for your beliefs is also a means of diversity to me. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. If we all had the same ideas and opinions we would be robots. Opinions are diversity.
ReplyDeleteTo me, diversity is characteristics that set people apart from one another. These characteristics are endless. Everybody is different from another person. This is what makes life. It would be boring if we were all the same. With diversity, we can learn more about others.
ReplyDeleteTo me diversity means a group of people or community made up of many different kind of people. May that be race, culture, relgion, sex or different characteristics. Its where people of unique backgrounds come together and make a community that make things awesome.
ReplyDelete