Articles and Links

Understanding Diversity In The Workplace: Cultural Metaphors of Metaphors of Identity?

By Thomas K. Fitzgerald

Summary:

The word “culture” today is too often a trendy substitute for more precise terms-sometimes a sloppy confusion with race or class, even an occasional metaphorical leap to look-alikes that only partially fit any anthropological definitions. The emphasis on self-development more than cultural awareness might be more important. Much of what concerns contemporary business is not really about culture, but more importantly about understanding diversity in the workplace.

Identity Groups Versus Culture Groups

Culture is said to influence only between 25 and 50 percent of our attitudes and behaviors. Therefore, one can conclude that between 50 and 5 percent of behavior is influenced by something other than culture. (social class, heritage, sex, and age) There is a tendency to over interpret human differences. Culture is often confused with identity. Keep in mind identities do not constitute culture. You cannot conclude that just because another group is different, they are a separate culture. There is an emphasis on having interpersonal skills rather than intercultural skills.

Divisions among people today do not stem from cultural differences per se, but from differences in age, sex, race, and class barriers. One cannot use culture to analyze diversity issues such as age, race, gender, and sexual preference.

Flexible Personality And The Global Person

A good communicator in the world today must be very understanding and appreciative of fundamental differences between groups. But there must also be an emphasis on similarities.

Avoid cultural generalizations. Don’t concentrate too much on differences because there may be more similarities than differences. Not all Middle Easterners engage in verbal overkill: not all Chinese are reluctant to give a direct answer.

Links

Ten Strategies for dealing with diversity
Dealing With Diversity
Approaching Diversity: Some Classroom Strategies for Learning Communities