HOW TO LIVE IN A DIVERSE SOCIETY?

PREPARED BY:

AZIE BINTI AZMAN

ZELIHA@RANIAH BINTI JOHARI

INTRODUCTION

What is diverse society?

Everyone comes from different backgrounds and has undergone diversity of experience. These differences are an essential part of what enriches humanity of a diverse society. Diversity refers to the great variety of human characteristics such as ways that we are different even as we are all human and share more similarities than differences. Diversity cannot be simply defined by a variety of ethnicity or races. It cannot also be simply described as people from different countries or cultures. Diversity encompasses all of these things and more. Diversity includes but is not limited to language, religion, marital status, gender, age, socioeconomic status, geography, politics and the list goes on and on! Just like organizational behavior, diversity incorporates a wide variety of genres and ideas but has developed into its own unique field.

Now that we have reviewed diversity, we need to discuss social diversity. You are probably wondering how the two are different. According to Dania Santana, a multiculturalism, diversity, and inclusion expert, social diversity is defined as a successful community which includes individuals from diverse backgrounds who all contribute to the success of the community by practicing understanding and respect of different ideas and perspectives. Santana explains that successful socially diverse communities are able to work together to achieve common goals.

In other word, diverse society is a successful community in which individuals of different race, ethnicity, religious beliefs, socioeconomic status, language, geographical origin, gender and/or sexual orientation bring their different knowledge, background, experience and interest for the benefit of their diverse community. As they all contribute to the success of the community, individuals in a healthy diverse society practice daily understanding and respect of the different ideas, viewpoints and unique perspectives of those who are somewhat different from them, as they recognize that those individuals share and are actively working towards achieving many common goals for the benefit of the community as a whole.

MAIN CONTENTS

Different Types of Social Diversity Social diversity can be classified into different categories on the basis of the criteria on which the difference in a particular society is determined and defined. The following are the different types of diversity which are commonly seen in our universe.

Religious Diversity

Now there are a number of religious entities in this world. In some countries people of different religions live together at the same localities. These religions contribute more to to the social diversity with religious centers like Mosques, Churches, Temples etc. They have also contributed with different sorts of rituals, celebrations, prayers, philosophies and scriptures. The major religions exist in this world are Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, and thousands of other subdivisions of different major religions.

Linguistic Diversity

If the people of a particular society interact with others by making use of a variety of languages, the society can be said to have linguistic diversity. Some countries or societies have got different languages with lots of sub versions. Linguistic diversity gives extra charm to such societies, as such societies possess different kinds of literary writings and linguistic symbols. More over language is one of the most important aspects of culture. So a society in which people who speak in different languages can boast of a centre of different cultural entities.

Racial Diversity

There are plenty of races in this world. Some countries keep a variety of ethnic groups with them. The factors such as migration, military invasion, inter-racial marriages, etc. may be regarded as the major cause behind the existence of different races in some countries. It is a commonly seen trend that some races are approached in a gentle manner while some others are always treated in a humiliating manner.

Cultural Diversity

Culture can be defined as the style or mode of life that a particular society follows. In a detailed manner, culture can be explained as the sum totality of the social existence of a particular society which includes its rituals, customs, celebrations, dress code, language, mode of relationship between and among the people etc. Culture is a term which is often mistaken as civilization. If a person is seen with the skin of an animal on his body, people use to call him ‘culture-less’. Actually, it is a part of his culture. Some countries are fortunate to have different types and levels of culture. When there are different cultural entities in a society, it gives beauty and charm to that society.

Individual diversity

Individual diversity is also regarded as a major type of social diversity, nowadays. What is individual diversity? It is nothing else, but the difference seen in the individual traits like intelligence, IQ, enthusiasm, attitude, aptitude, approach, vision, and other personality traits among the individuals of a particular social group, regardless to their social or cultural backgrounds. This is a modern concept, and this is the major factor which is highly regarded in the modern professional world. The multi national companies or business bosses never gives any attention towards which family or community or country that you belong to. They are bothered about what you are and what you can i.e. whether you are able to attract the customers with your communication skill and personality.

Sex / Gender / Sexual orientation

Sex and gender can be used in the traditional sense of male and female employees. For example, you may sometimes hear the term “gender balance” used by companies trying to achieve a 50-50 balance between employees who identify as male and employees who identify as female. But, as gender is increasingly redefined, the term “gender diversity” may be more appropriate, since there are multiple variations in gender and sexual orientation

What can you do to adapt to diverse society?

Acknowledge your own uniqueness, for you are diverse, too. Diversity does not involve just other people. Consider that you may be just as different to other people as they are to you. Don’t think of the other person as being the one who is different, that you are somehow the “norm.” Your religion may seem just as odd to them as theirs does to you, and your clothing may seem just as strange looking to them as theirs is to you until you accept there is no one “normal” or right way to be. Much of this has to do with your cultural background so it makes sense that someone from another cultural or ethnic background is different in some ways. But both of you are also individuals with your own tastes, preferences, ideas, and attitudes making you unique. It is only when you realize your own uniqueness that you can begin to understand and respect the uniqueness of others, too.

Consider your own (possibly unconscious) stereotypes. A stereotype is a fixed, simplistic view of what people in a certain group are like. It is often the basis for prejudice and discrimination: behaving differently toward someone because you stereotype them in some way. Stereotypes are generally learned and emerge in the dominant culture’s attitudes toward those from outside that dominant group. A stereotype may be explicitly racist and destructive, and it may also be a simplistic generalization applied to any group of people, even if intended to be flattering rather than negative. Remember, we learn stereotypes from our cultural background—so it’s not a terrible thing to admit you have inherited some stereotypes. Thinking about them is a first step in breaking out of these irrational thought patterns.

Do not try to ignore differences among people. Some people try so hard to avoid stereotyping that they go to the other extreme and try to avoid seeing any differences at all among people. But as we have seen throughout this chapter, people are different in many ways, and we should accept that if we are to experience the benefits of diversity.

Don’t apply any group generalizations to individuals. As an extension of not stereotyping any group, also do not think of any individual person in terms of group characteristics. People are individuals first, members of a group second, and any given generalization simply may not apply to an individual. Be open minded and treat everyone with respect as an individual with his or her own ideas, attitudes, and preferences.

Develop cultural sensitivity for communication. Realize that your words may not mean quite the same thing in different cultural contexts or to individuals from different backgrounds. This is particularly true of slang words, which you should generally avoid until you are sure the other person will know what you mean. Never try to use slang or expressions you think are common in the cultural group of the person you are speaking with. Similarly, since body language often varies among different cultures, avoid strong gestures and expressions until the responses of the other person signify he or she will not misinterpret the messages sent by your body language.

Take the initiative in social interactions. Many people just naturally hang out with other people they are most like that almost seems to be part of human nature. Even when we are open minded and want to learn about others different from ourselves, it often seems easier and more comfortable to interact with others of the same age, cultural group, and so on. If we do not make a small effort to meet others, however, we miss a great opportunity to learn and broaden our horizons. Making friends with others of different backgrounds is often one of the most fulfilling experiences of your life.

Work through conflicts as in any other interaction. Conflicts simply occur among people, whether of the same or different background. If you are afraid of making a mistake when interacting with someone from a different background, you might avoid interaction altogether and thus miss the benefits of diversity. Nothing risked, nothing gained. If you are sincere and respect the other, there is less risk of a misunderstanding occurring. If conflict does occur, work to resolve it as you would any other tension with another person, as described earlier

CONCLUSION

In the 21st Century, diversity has become an incredibly important consideration for companies, governments, and other public organizations. A focus on diversity can increase inclusion, widen consumer markets, and create a fairer and more inclusive society. In society today, most people view diversity as a good thing because it gives people the chance to experience different things outside of what they are normally accustomed to.

The fact of the matter is that the world has gone global and there is no turning back. That is why it is important we reflect on this phenomenon and define not only what is diversity meaning in the strict sense of the word, but to think about diversity in it social context so we can put into words not only what is, but what we aspire it to be as we continue on this journey of global citizenship.

When living in such a society, a human can absorb scientific and technical advances to create useful research projects for mankind. Specifically, medicine, informatics, and many other disciplines have attained outstanding achievements in improving the quality of life for people. This is how diversity works: by promoting hard work and creativity; by encouraging the consideration of alternatives even before any interpersonal interaction takes place. The pain associated with diversity can be thought of as the pain of exercise. You have to push yourself to grow your muscles. The pain, as the old saw goes, produces the gain. In just the same way, we need diversity in teams, organizations, and society as a whole if we are to change, grow, and innovate.

Finally, a diverse and global society leads to benefits in a nation’s economic sustainability. The interconnection of the world would help to strengthen trade facilitation among nations, thereby fostering healthier economics. As a result, it is a win-win situation. In short, living in a diverse and global society shows considerable effects on the positive side regarding culture, science technology, and economics.

REFERENCES

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Santana, Dania. "What Is Diversity And How I Define It In The Social Context." Embracing Diversity. Retrieved January 17, 2023 from http://embracingdiversity.us/ what-is-diversity-define-social-diversity/.

"Social Progress Index." Institute For Strategy & Competitiveness. Retrieved January 17, 2023 from https://www.isc.hbs.edu/research-areas/Pages/social-progress-aspx.

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