What really is diversity? What does it mean?

If you were to look up the meaning of diversity online or in an actual dictionary (does any one else remember having to have a book to look up words?) it would tell you that the definition is:

Diversity: the state of being diverse; variety. A range of different things.

Diverse: showing a great deal of variety: a culturally diverse population. (Of two or more things) markedly different from one another.

(Oxford College American Dictionary, Putnam. 2002)

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Now that you have the definition of what being diverse really means, take a second and reflect on how this term has impacted what you think about it. Where have you heard this term being used? Why have you heard this term being used? Do you think this term applies to you or your close circle of friends and family? In what other contexts can the term "diverse" be used?

Think about those questions for a moment. Write down your answers or talk about them with someone around you if you want to.

The first step in learning something that doesn't quite make sense to you is learning the definition of it, how and where this thing is used, and finally figuring out what attitudes there are out there in the world about said topic or term. This doesn't mean that you have to change the values that you hold dearly, it just means that you should be open to learning about the other side in order to help bring any two polar opposites together.

I have heard the term diversity mostly being used around topics of people in terms of differing skin tones or where their geographical heritage is. Generally, diversity is represented with a picture of different skin tones holding hands....

....or a cartoon of people standing around the outside of the globe representing all walks of life from all different places and backgrounds.

While all of this is great and yes, does show diversity, it only is representative of racial diversity. It does not take into account age, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, or any other of those things that make us diverse as a people. Not to mention that diversity exists within the natural world as well. Imagine if the weather was not diverse, it was always sunny or raining. Imagine if animals were all the same, even within groups such as "birds". If there was only one type of bird that we all could look at and know that that is the only type and color. The world would not be the same, the world would be boring and uninteresting. In my head I think of George Orwell's book 1984 in which society is in a totalitarian state of being.

It is not enough to simply say that diversity is the varying array of different skin tones or languages. Diversity is more than that, it includes all your forms of identity including religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, mental health, physical ability, age, socioeconomic status, everything!

We also must talk about animals, plants, weather, and food diversity. Animals must have diversity in order to survive, they must adapt and change as do humans. Weather is a great example of diversity that would be easily understood if you were to try and teach this big topic especially in an elementary school classroom. How does the diversity of the weather patterns on different parts of the Earth affect the life cycles there? In a rainy climate what type of plants are more likely to grow? Do we see the same type of animals or plants in Denver, Colorado USA as we do in Khartoum, Sudan? Are some of the plants and animals in Washington State USA similar to Sapporo, Japan? What types of food are considered native in the area of land that you are currently occupying? Are there similarities with the naturally and locally resourced foods in your section of the Earth as in other places? Think about these. I'm not trying to give you answers, I am trying to get you to come down from the clouds of our hustle and bustle, individualistic, capitalistic society and think deeply about these things and why you think so.

We must become more understanding of diversity in all of its forms and not only tolerate, but love and accept. Tolerance is not the best thing we can do, it is not something to celebrate, it is the bare minimum. To be able to tolerate someone or something is really not something that we should be patting ourselves on the back for. However it is the first step to deeper understanding, it really is something that should not be considered a phase. I'd consider it half of a phase! If you imagine someone who you love and think highly of, if this person is close in your social circle you would hope that they feel similarly towards you. Now imagine, that this person you believe to have a great relationship with told you that they don't really like you but that they just tolerate you because of reason "x". That would hurt your feelings right?

I found some great articles that perfectly describe diversity in all its forms. Here is one that lists the 34 Types of Diversity written by Bailey Reiners. This is not a quick read but if you scroll through it there are some great pictures and charts that help to represent the different types of diversity that they are describing.

This conversation is not over. I may write another post specifically about diversity, I may not. I may just continue to add it into other conversation topics. As with many ideas or topics, my ideas and viewpoint is just one based on my own personal lived experiences. My point is not to tell someone that this is "the one" answer, but to share my answer in hopes that we have conversations. Conversations are where people come together and become closer in our communities.

What are your thoughts on diversity?

How do you see diversity as depicted in the world from the lenses and identities that you hold?