We have grown accustomed to a one-dimensional definition of “diversity.” We see a few people of color on a college campus or one gay man in the office and say that our universities and workplaces embrace diversity. In cases such as this, we mistake representation for diversity.
Diversity does not come in numbers. It is not about just about how many people of color, or women, or religious minorities you have enrolled in a college or working at the office. It’s about how we, as people, interact with and accept those who differ from us, either in race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic background.
My university is frequently commended for their diversity efforts. And yet, I constantly see a divide in the communities present on my campus. Yes, their are students with a diverse array of friends. But then again, I frequently walk into dining halls and classrooms and see that students sit with students of their own race. Events held by ethnic or religious organizations do not always attract a diverse crowd, even though many of them would like to share their culture with students who do not know much about it.
Perhaps when placed in the foreign situations that college presents to us we gravitate towards what is familiar. However, for several students, especially students of color that I’ve talked to, they find that others do not treat them normally – they either try to “act black” or are uncomfortable talking to them.
When first meeting someone different from us, some of us may feel like we have to combat pre-misconceptions that others might hold against our identities – like “the affirmative action case”,”the angry black woman”, “the thug,” the terrorist,” etc. Many of us constantly face microaggressions at school or at work and feel isolated and cut off from our colleagues. Sometimes our peers see us merely as stereotypes or outsiders and choose to interact with us only when necessary.
Where is the acceptance in that? Isn’t diversity defined as “the inclusion of individuals representing more than one national origin, color, religion, socioeconomic stratum, sexual orientation, etc.?” If we can’t feel accepted by our fellow students and coworkers, then there is no diversity.
Although our country has seen some progress in the representation of minorities in higher education and the workplace, true diversity has not yet arrived. And believe me, it may be a long time coming. When discussing the segregation I have seen on my campus, many students say that they have never noticed it before. This is part of the problem. So many people do not see the divide amongst us even when it is so obviously present. No one really sees the problem. Perhaps if schools and workplaces fighting towards diversity actually sit down with their students and employees and explain this to them something may change. But to be honest, this won’t be enough. Society needs to constantly combat stereotypes to bring forth positive change. We need our schools and neighborhoods to be less segregated so our children learn to stop viewing those who are different from them as “the other.” And many individuals need to learn to stop seeing people just as a label like “the black one” or the “gay guy” and learn to interact with others as people.
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