Cultural International Perspective
When we hear the word “diversity,” we think of race and maybe culture.
This is true when we are referring to the diversity of ethnicity, race, and culture.
However, diversity is much broader. Diversity cuts across all facets of our lives, and it plays an important role in helping us survive. Among plants and animals, for example, diseases are less prevalent when there is greater diversity.
2 Pathogens cannot easily find their ideal hosts among various plants and animals, leading to lower levels of disease. And the passing of diseases is lower when there are lots of different kinds of hosts, as some will not be as receptive as others making the reproduction of diseases less likely. We see another lack of diversity in “in-breeding” with certain ancient royal families, where mutations, deformities, and genetic diseases have multiplied numerous generations.
a. Briefly explain what additional parallels can we make between the diversity of
culture and diversity among plants and animals?
b. Briefly explain the complex nature of racism, sexism, and other forms of
discrimination?
c. Some researchers have shown that when some people are given reminders of their own mortality, they feel a sense of anxiety and insecurity. Some, unfortunately, respond to anxiety and insecurity by becoming more prone to status-seeking, materialism, greed, prejudice, and aggression. As a teacher, explain how would you broach this dilemma in your classroom?
a. Briefly explain how can linguistic diversity be employed in solving social and
environmental problems?
b. Briefly explain how we can achieve greater efficiencies through the reduction
and streamlining or reducing of diversity?
