Appreciating Differences
Appreciating differences Name some ways that people can be unique. (p. 322-327) Homework discussion: You were asked to research customs and cultural aspects of a country of your choice. What country did you choose? What did you learn? Compare with American customs/culture.
Perceptions What do you see in this picture? A vase or two side profiles facing each other?
Diversity & Self Awareness • Self-awareness is a key aspect of appreciating diversity. It is important to develop awareness of your perceptions and viewpoints—the ways in which you view the world. • “Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart. He (or she) who looks outside, dreams. He (or she) who looks inside, awakens.” - Carl Jung, influential theorist of typology theory
Imagine‌ An Alaskan cruise ship is cruising along the Atlantic coast when suddenly it crashes into an iceberg. As water begins to fill the ship, people began to panic for their lives. Suddenly the captain remembers there is a lifeboat on board that can hold four (and only four) people. He contacts your team on who should be saved.
Passenger Manifest 1. 50 year-old captain of the boat who is a widower and has four children 2. 24 year-old civil rights activist who is in medical school 3. 17 year-old girl who is 5 months pregnant 4. A 45 year-old doctor who has found the cure for HIV, but is HIV positive 5. A 38 year-old ex-prostitute who is in her second semester at the local college 6. A philanthropist who has dedicated his life to helping mankind. He is gay and refuses to live without his partner 7. An economist who has found the secret to enhancing the economy. He is the partner to the philanthropist 8. A priest who is facing sexual molestation charges 9. An ex-police officer who was kicked off the force for police brutality. He is now a devout Christian 10. A recent law school graduate who is married and has three small children at home.
Which passengers did your group save?
Definitions of prejudice and discrimination Prejudice: An attitude toward members of some group, based solely on their membership in that group Discrimination: Prejudice in action What were some of your attitudes and assumptions about the people in the boat?
Ways we stereotype… Making general assumptions based on ignorance Ex. “Everyone who is _______ does ______.” Assuming that various cultures, race, status, etc. all like or enjoy the same things
Believing things that we have grown up hearing Making assumptions on things we have seen or an instance that we have experienced
Stereotyping • Does everyone have stereotypes? • How do stereotypes develop?
What can we do to appreciate diversity? The first thing we can do is to embrace diversity. Learn more about others. Ask questions to help you understand.
Stop making assumptions. Understand that one experience does not speak for an entire group of people.
Project Implicit • Blends basic research and educational outreach in a virtual laboratory • Helps visitors examine their hidden biases • The product of research by three scientists whose work produced a new approach to understanding of attitudes, biases, and stereotypes. • (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYQVDik69Nw)
Implicit Association Test findings Implicit biases are pervasive. “They appear as statistically "large" effects that are often shown by majorities of samples of Americans. Over 80% of web respondents show implicit negativity toward the elderly compared to the young; 75-80% of self-identified Whites and Asians show an implicit preference for racial White relative to Black.� Source: http://www.projectimplicit.net/generalinfo.php
Implicit Association Test • People are often unaware of their implicit biases. “Ordinary people, including the researchers who direct this project, are found to harbor negative associations in relation to various social groups (i.e., implicit biases) even while honestly (the researchers believe) reporting that they regard themselves as lacking these biases.” Source: http://www.projectimplicit.net/generalinfo.php
What can we do? • Can we combine self-awareness and information we know about prejudices to avoid discrimination? • What are your thoughts about this test?
Diversity Resources • At CSN: Office of Government Affairs and Diversity Initiatives sponsors events to foster cultural awareness and appreciation of diversity. https://www.csn.edu/pages/735.asp • Project Implicit: http://www.projectimplicit.net/