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3: Diversity

  • Page ID
    79265
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    Humans are naturally egocentric. Since we can exist only within our own heads, it is perfectly natural for us to assume everyone else thinks, perceives, and communicates as we do. The only world we can experience is the world as we see it, and it can be very challenging to understand that varied perceptions, values, and beliefs exist which are equally valid.

    • 3.1: Culture
      Our culture is the broad set of shared beliefs and values that form a collective vision of ourselves and others. Culture is learned, and it can be so ingrained it becomes challenge to identify how it influences our thoughts and behaviors. For example, in U.S. culture, we place a high value on self-determination: we have a fundamental right to make choices we deem best for us. As long as our actions do not harm others or inhibit their choices, we feel free to follow the life path of our choosing.
    • 3.2: Gender
      Throughout our lives there is one "intercultural" experience we have virtually every day; interaction with the opposite sex. Stereotypically, men complain about women talking too much, and women complain about men not talking enough. While there are many stereotypes and assumptions about how men and women communicate differently, there is growing acknowledgement that there are communication styles that are more feminine and communication styles that are more masculine.


    This page titled 3: Diversity is shared under a CC BY-NC license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Keith Green, Ruth Fairchild, Bev Knudsen, & Darcy Lease-Gubrud (Minnesota State Colleges and Universities) .

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