Diversity Definitions
Key Terms: Majority Minority Diversity Ethnocentrism Prejudice Stereotype Discrimination Tokenism
Majority
Refers to that group of people in the organization who hold the most positions that command decision-making power
Have the greatest access to system rewards
May also refer to the group that has the largest numbers
Minority
Refers to the group that are usually smaller in number
The group that has less access to decision-making
Group that has less access to system rewards
In the larger society, the minority group has a perceived lower status
What is Diversity?
Diversity includes the more obvious demographic differences (primary characteristics): Race/Ethnicity/Language Nationality Gender/Sex Age Sexual Orientation Physical Ability/Physical Attributes
What is Diversity
Diversity also includes other differences such as (secondary characteristics): Religion Socio-economic Status/Income Level Education Level Military Experience Marital Status Parental Status Political Affiliation Regionality/Geographic Location
Ethnocentrism
The belief that one’s own group, culture, country or customs are superior to others’
Prejudice
A preconceived judgment, opinion or assumption about an issue, behavior, individual or group of people
Stereotype
A positive or negative assessment of members of a group and/or their perceived attributes
Discrimination
The act of treating an issue, person or behavior unjustly or inequitably on the basis of stereotypes or prejudices
Tokenism
Refers to being one of a very few members of a group in an organization
The practice of hiring only one of a certain group simply to fill a quota without proper evaluation of the person’s skills
Sex/Gender
Sex is the biological difference between individuals…in this case, male and female individuals
Gender is a psychological and social construct formed to explain masculinity and femininity within a social group
Leisure choices are often strongly influenced by both sex and gender
Sexism
Language (calling women “girls”, etc) Lack of paid parental leave for men Social (and agency) pressure to prevent
girls from participating in rugby, boxing, etc (see Title IX)
Social pressure to prevent boys from participating in sewing, cooking, ballet, etc
Lack of available child-care in leisure facilities
Status
The amount of esteem and prestige one can elicit from others in society
May be based on any of the primary or secondary characteristics that form the dimensions of diversity
Culture
Surface Culture Deep Culture Subculture
Surface Culture
Those elements of a culture that are visible, or able to be picked up by the immediate senses Music Clothing Food Appearance Gestures
Often people make judgments based on surface culture elements alone
Deep Culture
Those elements of an individual that are not visible to others, yet may be even more important in terms of self-identity World views Social systems Beliefs Values Unstated (informal) norms Religion
Subculture
It is common for people to belong to one primary culture and one or more than one subculture
Subcultures may be associated with groups relating to work or leisure activities or with an individual’s economic or social status
Subcultures
Middle class Single Country western line dancers Stamp collectors ΔΔΔ CPRS
Classifications
While cultures, subcultures and other categories of diversity are convenient methods of classifying people, recreation agencies must always be aware of over-generalizing to the point of stereotype
Diversity in Rec and Leisure
Leisure services are not alone in being affected by the changing demographics of the US
In many ways, diversity is the term that replaces the term multicultural
How it Affects Us California became a “minority majority” in
2000 The number of people age 65 and older that
will remain at work is increasing Individuals with disabilities will compete more
effectively for employment within leisure services organizations
ADA requirements are still being implemented Two out of three new workers are now women
and by 2008, women will be 48% of the workforce
Affirmative Action programs are being questioned
How it Affects Us
Increased day care services and flexible work schedules
New types of benefits Multicultural programs and
employee training Changing facility design Increased programs for the “elderly”
How it Affects Us
Lawsuits related to discrimination and sexual harassment
Responding to changing societal values
Sensitivity and political correctness Equal opportunity in hiring and
delivery of services
How it Affects Us
Privacy regarding HIV and AIDS Inner-agency growing pains