From the three people I interviewed, their definition of culture were different. However, each person described diversity as to having some variation.
Younger Sister -Nigerian American
My definition of culture is the way a group of people share commonalities. How they perceive things, think, react/respond, and associate with themselves, others, and the world.
Diversity is when a variety is present. When different people and races are together in one area or location. It can be when you have different traditions, cultures, and ways of living are merged, combined, or together.
Older Sister-Nigerian American
Culture is a way of life that represents a person or a group. Culture does not have to be a permanent way of life, however. One can choose to embrace another culture outside if his/her cultural background.
Diversity is the product of mixing people of different cultural backgrounds. Diversity works best when the various cultures are able to appreciate the other.
Diversity is the product of mixing people of different cultural backgrounds. Diversity works best when the various cultures are able to appreciate the other.
Colleague -Israeli/Syrian/Irish Female
Culture to me are different ways of.living due.to traditions, the environment and sometimes religion. I think all these factors contribute to different cultures.
I think diversity is variations of different people, places and things.
From the definitions I received there were a few aspects of culture and diversity that I have studied so far. Those aspects are a person's thoughts, reactions, associations with others and the world, way of life, tradition and environment. These aspects of culture and diversity are all ways some individuals may choose to identify themselves. My younger sister defined diversity as ways of living that merged or combined. Similarly Derman-Sparks & Edwards (2010) described culture as a sense of connectedness.
One aspect of culture that we have discussed that was omitted from the responses was family culture. Louise Derman-Sparks defines family culture as how a particular family is in the world, the rules of their
behavior, the family’s beliefs, values, goals for their children and parenting (Laureate Education, 2011). None of them seemed to touch on the fact that culture also represents family. They each mentioned traditions and culture as a way of life. I believe that not understanding someone's family culture can play a role in understanding that person's way of life and or thinking.
Hearing my sisters and colleague's definitions of culture and diversity allowed me to take a step into their views on the topic. Their definitions coincide with my definition of culture and diversity. It was interesting to see that my sister's responses were similar. None of their answers were wrong, but each was unique. I have come to a better understanding that people do have an understanding of what culture and diversity is; none of them hesitated to give me a response. I was glad that they do have an understanding and that they were all open minded.
References
Derman-Sparks, L., &
Edwards, J. O. (2010). Anti-bias
education for young children and ourselves. Washington, DC: National Association
for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).
Retrieved from: https://class.waldenu.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=%2F webapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_2817 923_1%26url%3D
I found your sisters' responses interesting. Their views reflect your family culture through their similarities with each other and your own views. I also enjoyed how your younger sister's response was more of a definition while your older sister's response focused on the interactions of people.
ReplyDeleteDorcas, I think we first experience culture through our parents and relatives because these are the first relationships we form as children. As we become adults, we delete some of our family traditions and beliefs and adopts new ones of our own. Your sister eloquently stated that culture is not permanent and individuals can choose to embrace other cultures outside of his or her own.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. As a society we all have different definitions of culture. As educators we have to remember that culture do represent our families and we must make sure we are allowing our children to keep their culture
ReplyDeleteI connected with the older sister's response, when she defined culture as a way of life, and explained that it is not permanent, and can change. Because culture is not simply race or ethnicity it most definitely can change.
ReplyDeleteHi Dorcas,
ReplyDeleteYou are right. Most of us don't realize the family aspect of diversity and identity. We usually give broad definition. However, our family influences our diversity and identity a great deal. As adults, we can either identify with those ideals or we move away from them to appeal to our surroundings. Hopefully, we learn to include some of both in order to become a more well-rounded person.
Thanks for sharing! Cindy Rube