Diversity Questions with Peer Reviews

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Answer Question

Week One Discussion

Do you believe it continues to be essential to study diversity?

Citing at least two peer reviewed studies on the subject, present to the class evidence that suggests Sociological studies of diversity remain relevant, or if you believe to the contrary, present peer reviewed evidence to support that position.

Peer Review 1:

Dalfonso:

In the United States, we have a myriad amount of backgrounds. These backgrounds will somehow affect you one way or another as they make up the leaders, employees, students, customers, business partners, consultants, and volunteers you might be dealing with on a daily basis. As one digs deep into these individuals, one may notice that their characteristics can differ from your own. These individuals may have different gender, race, skin color, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, socioecomic status, dialect, disability, spiritual, religious, ancestry,  and cultural than your own. Although there are more characteristics, we can clearly conclude that diversity is very complex. This is why it is very imperative to study diversity, as it will provide us with information to dealing with certain individuals on a daily basis. Cultural diversity “clearly helps us to better understand the types of roles that individuals from a variety of diverse backgrounds perform in the workforce” (Byrd & Scott, 2014, p.6). One could conclude that with all of these characteristics, there are many misconceptions of diversity as well. Most studies suggest that we must examine diversity in order to understand our social construct. If our social construct contains all types of backgrounds, then this can diminish discrimination and other discrepancies that undermine certain individuals of our society. However, most research suggests, “ideological climates remains underdeveloped, even though they serve a central function in enforcing and legitimizing a given social structure” (Fasel et al., 2013). If we do not study diversity, we are subject to more discrimination and oppression of certain individuals. This is why it is important to not only continue the study of diversity, but also encourage others in hopes to one-day end discrimination.

References:

Byrd, M. Y., & Scott, C. L. (Eds.). (2014). Diversity in the workforce : Current issues and emerging trends. Retrieved from https://ebookcentral.proquest.com

Fasel, N., Green, E. G. T., & Sarrasin, O. (2013). Facing cultural diversity: Anti-immigrant attitudes in Europe. European Psychologist18(4), 253–262. https://doi-org.nuls.idm.oclc.org/10.1027/1016-9040/a000157

Peer Review 2:

Chu:

Diversity continues to be essential to study in the workforce. With a variety of “racial backgrounds bring different life experiences and understandings with them” (Packard, 2012). However, some may view diversity in the workplace as an advantage or disadvantage for them.  It is possible that “individuals may believe that diversity is associated with increased opportunities for minority group members and decreased opportunities for members of majority groups” (Unzueta & Binning, 2012). Although some individuals are looking at diversity as an opportunistic approach, without it, advancement in technology, travel, and communication may not be what it is today. With a variety, diverse, group of people will “results in a more diverse collection of thoughts, ideas, and opinion” (Packard, 2012). These different ideas and thoughts collaborate and fill in the gaps that may be missing if there were only one monotoned thought to create and build.

References

Packard, J. (2012, July 24). The Impact of Racial Diversity in the Classroom: Activating the Sociological Imagination - Josh Packard, 2013. Retrieved from https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0092055X12451716.

Unzueta, M. M., & Binning, K. R. (2012). Diversity Is in the Eye of the Beholder: How Concern for the In-Group Affects Perceptions of Racial Diversity. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 38(1), 26–38. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167211418528