Diversity
The course corresponds to diversity and how it impacts the society as a whole. However, it primarily focuses on gender, race, and age and ethnicity diversity in various workplaces. This course has strongly impacted my knowledge concerning diversity. Firstly, my initial definition of diversity focused on gender diversity only. In week one, I described diversity as the manners we understand the similarities and differences in each aspect of one’s life. However, I managed to learn a diverse definition of diversity through this semester and how it impacts companies as well as the relationships between individuals or groups. I have observed that diversity encapsulates differences in age, religion, disability, and much more (Block, 2017). Hence, diversity can be defined as the acknowledgement of individuals and recognizing their discrepancies. Such disparities overlap with age, size, class, color, and ethnicity.
The four lenses introduce the study diversity by taking a look at an individual and a social system from different points of view to help inform a deeper understanding. These lenses work hand-in – hand toward achieving a common goal. They help build understanding and incorporation of cultural changes through proactive decision taking that shows an impact on cultural diversity and growth capital present in society and also individuals (Block, 2017). With regards to the society and the individual, the lens helps in awareness of cultural processes in various sectors in the society which in turn strengthens relationships between culture and heritage of persons and also embraces society creativity.
The four lenses represent a way of seeing diversity by embracing resource mobilization, knowledge development and explaining the effects of different aspects in our societies on diversity. The four lenses mainly focus on people, places, processes and powers that are the major players in our societies. These players affect diversity on way or another and hence there is need to study them through the help of the four lenses (Block, 2017). The implications of diversity on the future include production of positive results when managed properly. Also, it helps people to understand the culture and connect with other people worldwide regardless their age, gender, race or sexual orientations among others. However, if diversity is not managed properly, it can produced negative effects that can harm the society in the long run.
I am going to implement what I have learned in this course into my own life by treating and respecting all people with dignity regardless their gender, age or race. As a volunteer at a hospital, taking information of inpatients, and giving out food to those in need, I interact with various people from diversified societies (Block, 2017). Through this course, I have become more aware of the different needs of different people in our society and by that, I will be in a better position to embrace diversity. I can maintain intimate friendships with my clients, patients and friends with the application of diversity principles.
References
Block, C. J., & Noumair, D. A. (2017). Understanding diversity dynamics in systems: Social equality as an organization change issue.