EXPLORING DIVERSITY

People are not alike. Everyone is different. Therefore, diversity consists of visible and invisible factors, which include personal characteristics such as background, physical attributes, culture, political view, education, work/life experience, skills, personality and work-style in addition to the characteristics that are protected under discrimination legislation in terms of race, disability, gender, religion and belief, sexual orientation and age.
In order to understand diversity people must be aware of three different competencies:

1. Knowledge: the awareness and understanding needed to live and work in a diverse world.

a. Cultural self: the ability to understand one’s ethnic identity and how it influences identity development
b. Diverse ethnic groups: knowledge of diverse ethnic groups and their cultures
c. Social/political/economical/historical frameworks: awareness how
social, political, economic, historical issues impact race and ethnic relations
and the global world

2. Personal Attributes: it’s the behavior needed by those who live and work in a diverse world.

a. Flexibility: the ability to respond and adapt to new and changing situations
b. Respect: an appreciation for those who are different from one’s self
c. Empathy: the ability to understand another person’s culture by listening to and understanding their perspective

3. Skills: are the behaviors and performance tasks needed to live and work in a diverse world.

a. Cross cultural communication: verbal and nonverbal communication skills in
interaction with those who are culturally different from one’s self
b. Team work: the ability to work in culturally diverse groups toward a common goal
c. Listening: the ability to attend to what others are saying
d. Conflict resolution: the ability to resolve cultural conflicts that occur between individuals and groups
e. Leadership development: the ability to provide multicultural leadership

This is important to understand because managing these differences will create a productive environment in which everybody feels valued, their talents are fully utilized and organizational goals are met.
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¿Do you think the entry and integration of new members to the European Union are processes that promote diversity? or, on the contrary, ¿strive to homogenize the European Society?

I do think that the entry and integration process of new members promote diversity. This diversity brings richness to their cultures, economies and societies, due to their great variety of languages, beliefs, values, among others. An although this in some cases could promote discrimination on the grounds of racial or ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief in the workplace, the European Union have implemented laws that provide protection for all members of society. There is also a new camping promoted by the members of the EU called “For Diversity. Against discrimination” which is trying to promote the benefits of DIVERSITY!

http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/fdad/cms/stopdiscrimination/news_events/news/news011.html?langid=en