|
Ethics/125 Final |
Dealing with Diversity |
|
By Cindy Schmidt |
6/16/2012 |
Research based on diversity and ways to avoid prejudice and bias. |
I learned much about prejudices and stereotypes and how they differ. I learned that there is prejudice in every culture and in every ethnic group. Unfortunately I learned how prejudiced the Hispanic culture can be against Caucasian people. This is especially true when the Hispanic people are the majority in a town and there are not that many white people. The town I lived in located in Southern New Mexico about 100 miles from the old Mexico border has a predominantly Hispanic population. I lived there for 22 years and was a victim and witnessed the amount of prejudice that occurs daily. My sons also witnessed this in the New Mexico schools. While they had some Hispanic friends for the most part they were at odds with them. There are many people there that look at white people as equals but there are so many that do not it makes it hard to see the good.
I think that this course has taught me that even though there are differences in our cultures and beliefs there are also things that we all have in common. I have learned that if we try to be flexible in our beliefs and understand that we do not have to agree with all beliefs and cultures but we do have to exist together. Keeping this in mind will go a long way toward letting everyone of different ethnicities and origin to understand each other and to try not to be judgmental and biased simply because we are different.
I think that if the high schools in diverse areas would hold awareness seminars and classes while children are still in school they would become aware of biases and prejudices that they may not be aware of. Some of the children may not be aware that their parents have been a significant influence on the way they see other cultures and ethnicities. Parents should also make sure that they are careful how they talk...