Diversity Considerations

Written by: Angel R Kolstedt
July 23rd, 2014

Abstract Influence from ones culture, on attitudes, values, perception, human behavior, and spiritual interpersonal relations is the basis behind why there is diversity in society. Through ones upbringing or societies views or even ones culture are all factors that are promoting cultural diversity. Through research and education though public safety can enhance their evaluation of information to better help those in society who may need their assistance and stop the stereotyping or even bring down some of the diversity in society.

Diversity Considerations Cultures often can have a drastic influence upon attitudes, values, perception, human behavior and interpersonal relations. Such as with a person’s attitude this can be something that they are programmed with from early childhood that they have to have nothing but the most recent name brand and highest dollar clothing to be accepted in society or be someone. If they don’t they are apt to downed and judged for not fitting in. Another form of this is the clicks in schools such as the preps, the geeks, the hoods, or just the jocks.
This is where the person’s values, perceptions, human behavior and interpersonal relations come to truly be seen. Through their culture one is showing that due to someone’s income, they can not afford the nicer things and then assume that, that person is not worthy of a chance to get to know them or they cant be trusted. These are all influenced by either their family models, society or even sometimes those who are around the person daily and can impact that person. However, through the person’s culture it can also be frowned upon if they are with another race, social levels or social class, political level, economic level, spiritual level. In some cultures it is not accepted to be around or involved personally with anyone who is of another race, social levels or social class, political level, economic level, spiritual level or those who are around them may use them, shun them, abuse them, or may even go to the extreme of killing them for doing so. “The reason is that people from various backgrounds will interpret and formulate the same event differently based on their perceptions and interpretations” (Armache, 2012, pg. 63-64). There are numerous reasoning’s behind factors that cause and promote societal, political, socioeconomic, and spiritual oppression. A few of the factors that are a cause are such as social hierarchy.
Other areas that can cause or promote the diversity are family beliefs, organizational beliefs, spiritual beliefs, and sometimes sexual preferences or beliefs. “By examining closely the
Diversity Considerations processes that construct categories of difference, we will better understand how they impact our lives” (Ore, 2013, pg. 2). For example spiritual beliefs can cause many to have diversity to others. Say for example, lesbians and gays want equality.
Yet there are many who have their spiritual beliefs that their sexual preferences are wrong and forbidden. Through their beliefs they choose to judge and outcast others. They sometimes will scald them and try to convert them or they will tell them how they are wrong. This is a part of our society that we have to face daily. No one is the same.
There are numerous differences within all forms of life that make us see things differently. There are many who are raised to see that sexuality is to be only a man and a woman. That is not their decision to choose for everyone. However to try and tell someone else how to feel or believe after the way they were raised or taught through their families, society telling them how they should or should not be, or even that their religious beliefs are wrong is something we face daily.
Racial and cultural diversity is a major issue that is faced within the communities of non-native English speaking communities. In such communities most often times there are those in which who are the advisors that tend to be in control of the community. The elders of the community are often the advisors as “they have an important role in maintaining or promoting their culture; and providing support across their communities based on common experience” (Warburton, 2007, pg. 47). Sometimes these elders can do great things for their communities as individuals as well as harm their communities.
As a society many have issues with the fact that these communities are in their neighborhood or country and do not speak the language in which they are in. This then causes for other diversities to come to play. Whether they are Chinese, Hispanic, or even from Saudi

Diversity Considerations
Arabia, they may not the native language in which they are living in. This is not always by choice.
There are some that here them speaking their language and this infuriates them. Then they feel intimidated and judge them as though they are a terrorist because of their heritage or religious belief. Or feel as if they are trying to control our country or even take over say maybe because they are not from here. In the end of it all it is all a form of ignorance. If one was to actually take the time to be better educated and try to better understand their cultures, beliefs, or their reasons as to why they maybe here or not be able to speak English than maybe this could help them to better understand that they are actually here trying to just support their families, make a living and succeed in life as an equal as we all are. In the end more often than not we are all on the same level and are looking for the same end goal in life. Such as equality, stable income levels to support our families, nice things such as homes and cars. Many are being fooled or misguided that all because someone is at a lower income level they are not as good of a person as someone who has the same income level they do.
Although there are the stereotypes that because someone who lives in housing project and has to live off of assistance is worthless and a disgrace to society this is not the case, nor does it mean they are on drugs or deal with them. It just means they need the assistance to help them. Sometimes this is only a temporary thing. A woman in Indiana has lived on an SSI check for most her life and had little job experience. She put herself through school and got her degree in Business and later opened her on flower shop. She now is one who gives back to the community and has over come the stereotype after numerous struggles and facing diversity head on.
Through current research on diversity this will have a much more positive impact on the delivery of public safety and enhance the evaluation of information as well as the resources
Diversity Considerations offered. Examples of this would be that of for example a domestic violence call was called into dispatch. The officers were requested to the home. They arrived to find that living in the home and the parties involved were that of two lesbians.
The issue at hand was in the matter of the two women fighting over another woman that was a mutual friend. The one woman accused the other of cheating with her. The fight escalated into a physical altercation. This is when officers where dispatched and arrived at the home. After finding out however the couple were lesbian the officers informed them this was more along the lines of just a battery case and not a domestic case. That since gay marriage was not acknowledged in the state they resided in they were not considered to be actually married so this was not a domestic case.
This then made the women rather upset as the officers at hand made them feel as though they were discriminating against them. The officers later left with just warning the parties involved to stop the fighting and left. However with the research and along with the enhanced evaluation of information and resources this will and could have then bettered this type of situation. The officers would have been better able to handle the situation. Officers daily are faced with all forms and walks of life.
Through this research officers can learn the differences in diversity and how to handle situations that they face with a better outcome. They will be able to better stop the diversity and help to show their communities that just because someone is different in one way or another that this is ok. Through the research the positive impact as a whole the delivery of public safety as a whole will be better education on the different races, cultures, ethnic beliefs, as well as so much more and will be able to better understand or even communicate with individuals to not only help yet possibly stop the crimes in our society that everyday we face.
Conclusion
Diversity is something in which our society has had around since the beginning of our existence. Diversity has a lot to do with how we are raised and what we are taught throughout our childhood to believe, feel or even act. Diversity is basically a form of discrimination because someone is different. However through research and education, diversity can and will have a much more positive impact on our society as a whole as it will help others to better understand why some are the way in which they are or do as they do. Diversity is in a way a form of flat out ignorance as to the fact that everyone is different and has a right to be who they are without being judged.

References
Armache, J. (2012). Diversity in the Workplace: Benefits and Challenges. Journal of International Diversity, 59-75.
Ore, T. (2013). The social construction of difference and inequality: Race, class, gender, and sexuality (6th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
Warburton, J. &. ((2007)). Passing on Our Culture: How Older Australians from Diverse Cultural Backgrounds Contribute to Civil Society. Journal Of Cross-Cultural Gerontology, 47-60.