What's so Important About Cultural Diversity?
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Cultural diversity is important because it affects everyone. Cultural diversity
is more than racial classification, ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation. Cultural
diversity encompasses the whole range of human experiences including but not limited
to age, gender, racial classification, ethnicity, religion, socioeconomic class,
physical disabilities, national origin, geographical location, political orientation,
physical size and appearance. These factors influence the cultural experiences and
backgrounds of individuals and groups.
Cultural influences shape the framework within which people view the world and operate
in their everyday approaches to life. They influence the distinct way in which people
define and organize reality, their lifestyle, guiding beliefs and basic assumptions
about life. Culture is an important guiding force in individuals' lives and shapes
not only their perceptions, but their relationships with people and the world around
them. In many cases individuals group themselves on the basis of cultural similarities,
and as a result form cultural groups. Cultural groups share behavioral patterns,
symbols, values, beliefs and other characteristics that distinguish them from other
groups. Cultural groups can provide a source of belonging, mutual help, validation,
identity and self-esteem. Cultural groups are not mutually exclusive, in that individuals
can hold simultaneous memberships within different groups.
Understanding cultural diversity involves gaining a greater awareness of the ways
that cultural heritage and background influence one's values, assumptions, thought
processes and relationships. The process of learning about cultural diversity involves
moving from a monocultural perspective that devalues differences at the personal,
interpersonal, institutional and cultural levels to a cultural pluralist perspective
which involves acceptance, valuing, utilization and celebration of similarities
and differences at the personal, interpersonal, institutional and cultural levels.
As a member of the UCSB community, you will have an opportunity to interact with
and learn about the experiences and perspectives of individuals and groups from
many cultural backgrounds. In addition to academic learning in the classroom, this
campus community can become your own learning laboratory in which you can explore
many of your assumptions, beliefs and expectations regarding culturally different
groups and individuals. One of the most effective ways to achieve an understanding
of cultural diversity is by taking advantage of opportunities to develop genuine
relationships with individuals who are culturally different from yourself.
The MultiCultural Center provides a forum to engage in and discuss critically many
pertinent issues. Serving as a bridge to the entire campus community, the MCC offers
a broad spectrum of events including lectures, panel discussions, films and videos,
musical, dance, and dramatic performances, poetry readings, art exhibits, and a
weekly coffee house. Through the provision of space and educational programming,
the MCC serves as a catalyst to promote, celebrate, and increase awareness about
diversity at UCSB, to recognize cultural differences as well as similarities, and
to encourage cross-cultural interaction.
Many of the problems experienced by culturally different groups and individuals
are based on cross-cultural miscommunication and misinformation. As a student at
UCSB you can help to develop a campus climate where honest, civil and respectful
communications can be achieved. Communication is necessary for reducing misinformation
and building bridges across the barriers created by societal beliefs about race,
ethnicity, gender, age, status, class, disabilities, sexual orientation, religion,
etc.
Creating a community that supports cultural diversity will enrich the learning process
and academic environment by stimulating teaching and research with new perspectives.
This, in turn, will potentially generate new questions and new answers to some old
problems. In addition, it is crucial that the university prepares students to assume
leadership positions in the culturally diverse national and global marketplace.
The more informed you are regarding differing perspectives and lifestyles, the more
marketable you will be in an increasingly diverse society and world.
We invite you to come and share your perspectives with us and others on campus in
order to build a community that is open to exploring, learning about and being enriched
by the uniqueness that each of us has to offer.
Staff at the MultiCultural Center (MCC)
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