Embracing differences: The importance of diversity in friend groups

While some people may choose to remain in homogenous friend groups, others choose to transcend cultural norms and invite people of distinct ideologies or mindsets to their table, developing a more wellrounded understanding of people from different cultures. Embracing diversity in friend groups can provide numerous benefits, both for individuals and for society as a whole. Exploring different cultures, ideas and perspectives can help break down stereotypes while providing a sense of community, allowing people to connect with others who have similar and different experiences and backgrounds.

The idea of diversity being beneficial for individuals has been explored by various psychologists. A study from The Society for Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP), found that students who reported having mostly same-gender friends— approximately two-thirds of the subjects—had increased prejudice against other genders, especially when compared to children with friends of various genders. Those with less prejudice against other genders ended up having more comfortable shared interactions and an increased chance of being in relationships later.

However, it can be challenging for people to step out of their comfort zones and interact with those who are different from them for a variety of reasons. An important one is homophily: Individuals tend to stick with those similar to them because it is more comfortable to interact with people with shared values, beliefs and experiences, as noted by University of Arizona sociologist Miller McPherson. According to McPherson, however, it is important to overcome this fear, as expanding one’s social circle to encompass diverse individuals can help prevent the development of surface-level stereotypes about other groups.

“The friend groups I am a part of are predominantly formed through shared interests, culture and good first impressions of one another. My friends are people who play the same sports and video games as me and because of these connections, I hang out with them often,” Senior Aiden Bulow said.

Diversity can also come in many other forms, including ethnicity, race, religion and sexuality. Thus, one can connect with others on certain topics, while benefiting from their differences. As reported by Verywell Mind, a website focused on health and wellness, homophily in race and ethnicity can be the hardest to overcome, as the fear of rejection and oppression can prevent individuals who belong to minority groups from forming friendships, while racial prejudice acts as a barrier that discourges from majority groups from reaching out to minorities. Nonetheless, a meta-analysis combining results from 515 different studies revealed that the more contact one had outside

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of their racial group, the less prejudiced they were.

“There are some patterns in the friend group I hang out with. Usually, people connect with each other over non-academic interests. On top of sharing the same hobbies, my friends and I communicate with each other on a daily basis. That brings our friend group together, our ability to bond through shared memories and laughter,” Senior Shivali Upadhyay said.

Though the stigma around diversity may sometimes be discouraging, helping peers educate themselves about different views can help friend groups become more accomodating to different. Additionally, diversity is slowly becoming more established with recent movements such as #MeToo or #BlackLivesMatter being promoted across the media to bring different perspectives to light. Greater understanding and appreciation of different cultures have also grown, and by engaging with individuals of different backgrounds and cultures, people can broaden their view of the world.

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