Why Does Cultural Diversity Matter?
Cultural diversity matters to every single one of us, both professionally
and personally. When a group or segment of our population is excluded
or oppressed, all of us are denied. For our businesses and communities
to not only survive, but to thrive, each of us needs to be aware and sensitive
to ALL the members of the community. Our communities are rich with resources.
When all segments are respected and utilized, it benefits everyone involved.
A great many of us live on the “margins” of society. To be in a margin
means that you are not a part of the mainstream, popular culture. In this
nation, our popular culture – or “ideal” for business success – is white,
young, heterosexual, Christian, and male. This means you are on the margins
if you:
• are a woman
• have ANY ethnic background that is non-white
• are not a heterosexual
• are not a Christian
• are not between the ages of 21-50
If you can answer, “yes” to any one of these criteria, you live in the
margins. This means that there are obstacles, prejudices, and stereotypes
about YOU as an individual. You cannot automatically assume that society’s
view of you is unobstructed or based solely on your individual character,
qualifications, or accomplishments. Unfortunately, you may be put in the
situation to “second guess” or question one’s motives in their interactions
and responses to you.
Another fact this criterion illustrates is that more of us live IN the
margins than do not. More of us DO NOT fit the societal prescription of
what is normal and acceptable. While this all may be true, we all must
do our best to function as productive, happy individuals.
So what are we to do? We can all strive for change. We can all be proactive
in our decisions and lifestyles rather than reactive to ignorance and
intolerance. When a white woman snubs an ethnic woman, for instance, she
is harming herself as well. The white woman lives in the same margin as
the ethnic woman, and she is only perpetuating and cementing her place
there.
America is the most diverse nation in the world. Our ethnicity, religion,
life experience, etc., makes each of us unique. Ideas our nation once
embraced about assimilation are now inappropriate and outdated. For someone
who lives on the margins to assimilate into a single idea of acceptance
to fit into society is a gross violation of their individual identity
and rights. This means that we all need to learn to accept what is different
from us and respect it.
Managing Cultural Diversity in the Workplace
The management of diversity can be considered a response to the need to
recognize, respect and capitalize on the different backgrounds in our
society in terms of race, ethnicity, and gender. Different cultural groups
have different values, styles, and personalities, each of which may have
a substantial effect on the way they do business.
Rather than punishing or stifling these different management styles because
they do not conform to the traditional white (male) management methods,
employers should recognize these differences as benefits. Not only can
diverse management styles achieve the same results as traditional methods,
but a diverse workforce can also help improve the company’s competitive
position in the marketplace.
Diversity, or sensitivity training, is now commonplace in the corporate
world. However, small businesses need to be aware of these issues just
as well. As a small business owner, your awareness and respect of diversity
truly matters to your employees and your client base.
You must create a balance of respect and understanding in the workplace
to have happy and optimally productive workers. In addition to this, it
is important that you AND your employees are aware of the importance of
respecting diversity when dealing with your clients. When you work effectively
with your community, both you and the community benefit.
