Mapping the Conversation on Diversity

Barbara Laughton says that “language has a great deal to do with not only expression but also thought and behavior. What we think becomes what we say and what we do. What we do reinforces our initial thought and perpetuates both the terms we use and the ways we act. This can become a closed circle of mental stereotypes and thoughtless behavior. Language is important because it is the middle term here, which is the bridge between thought and action. When we’re discussing immoral and illegal behavior such as racism, sexism, and other actions which compromise human dignity in public life, the terms we use are particularly important in promoting equality”.

Looking at the sociological effects of this would say that, the language of diversity seeks to shape and change the way we respond socially to the matters of diversity. Things that we choose to say or not to say, can both help and hinder us as a society. To look at the sociological perspective would be to say that “it emphasizes that our social backgrounds influence our attitude” according to Thoughts.com. I wholeheartedly endorse what thought.com calls sociological perspective. Because in truth , our social backgrounds shape how we respond to things going on in the world, not the other way around. I believe that this view can be changed over time as we grow and mature, we experience different things.

People tend to choose the views that they want to hold on to, which ones to let go of, and which ones no longer suit them. Which views were “old wives tales” and which ones “grandma was not crazy about”. How we grow up has a huge affect on how we see the world or don’t. Sociological Diversity according to the University of Oregon states, that the concept of diversity encompasses acceptance and respect it means understanding that each individual is unique, and recognizing our individual differences. These can be along, the dimension of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation , socio economic status, age , physical abilities , religious benefits, political beliefs or other ideologies . It is the exploration of these differences in a safe, positive, and nurturing environment.

It is about understanding each other and moving beyond simple tolerance to embracing and celebrating the rich dimensions of diversity contained within each individual. These conclusions that the University of Oregon discusses in sociological diversity, add weight to the argument that inclusion and diversity are the same; that no matter where you come from you actually have to care about people to help people. You have to be able to see that you are a part of diversity no matter the race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, etc. because without one another where is the diversity , we’d all identify as one thing and we don’t. It would be amazing if we could but that’s another story. Here I think it is important to look at Psychological Inclusion- which is an educational practice whereby students with special needs are fully integrated into the general education classrooms at school, it rest on the idea that every individual , regardless of his/her disability, has the right to be incorporated fully into the fabric of society.

Equally I agree with this concept. I don’t think that children or adults should be forced to stay in a class room if they can proved that they have excelled past the point of “special education”, just because they start there doesn’t mean that that is where they should be forced to stay for a life time. Most students in an IEP (individualized Educational Plan) stay in those classes throughout all their years of schooling, it makes one wonder if it’s because that is all people see of them; placing their own mental limits on them. Is it a thing of comfort for the person with the disability or is it simply how the system is just designed and people go along with it. Never thinking that it will excel beyond the box of what it is, & not what it should be designed for. It should be designed so that as the students evolve it does also. According to Ed.Gov approximately “413,000 children served under an IDEA program 71 percent of those graduated with a high school diploma”, which is excellent news. Or is it? “17 percent of that number dropped out, 10 percent received an alternative certificate and 1 percent reached the maximum age to continue receiving special education services”. Now when I look at these numbers again I say that they are great but no percentage is ranked for students who mentally outgrew an IEP program, they just stayed in until the end.

Why is that, one is must ask? Why are some only graduating, but not growing out of the program? Who knows if the 17 percent who dropped out were the ones who wanted out but couldn’t, because they were given a marker of IEP and could not escape. I think that is something well worth looking into. Equality- is the quality of being fair or impartial. Now when I looked at the definition for each, I realize that they all in some way talk about inclusion. My own view is that- it is another classification, to help find a way to include equality in all that you do, in every area that you work in, regardless of the area that you work in. I don’t think that you can successfully work with people without talking about diversity in some manner, because we don’t all posses the same upbringing or background. We are all unique and different to some extent. We may have some of the same qualities but, not the same ideas. We may have the same thoughts, but not the same mindset about the thoughts and how to react to them. So I feel that it is important to find a way to let people know that all people matter even if they are not the ones you personally like. We all stand to benefit from one another in some way form or fashion.

Life Empowerment Coach

Ireenii Irvin