When we talk about Diversity and Inclusion, we are typically talking about accepting people who are different from us, mostly in a racial sense. But there are other ways to be diverse. Like through sexual orientation, gender, or even by how much money you make.
Diversity and Inclusion
Let’s start with the definitions of diversity and inclusion
Diversity
Diversity is understanding that there are differences between people. Not only racial differences, but differences in culture, religion, sexual orientation, where you live and how much money you make.
Inclusion
Is accepting and including people who are different from ourselves and including them in what we are doing as equal partners.
I really love this image to explain the difference. This quote from Verna Myers, a Diversity and Inclusion Expert, explains the relationship between these two ideas.
People have been aware that there were differences between people and cultures for a long time. But awareness is only a first step.
Racial and gender diversity and inclusion
When we say that diversity isn’t just being different from someone else due to race, another way that we could be different is by gender. As we explore the history of our country, we see many examples of how people of different races are treated differently. How about people of different genders? Selma mentioned a book in her What Ya Reading Wednesday post on Instagram last week called Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith. It is about a young adult black woman who becomes a WASP (Woman Airforce Service Pilot).
At the time, they weren’t allowing Black women to become a WASP based solely on the color of their skin. Ida Mae, being a light skinned Black woman, was able to become one by withholding the fact that she was Black from them. Even though she had the skills to fly an airplane, she would have not been allowed to become a WASP if she had admitted she was Black. So, the idea of diversity was being seen and accepted, but inclusion wasn’t a part of it.
And, being a woman pilot in the armed services wasn’t accepted either. The WASPs were accepted to fly airplanes towing targets, or fly airplanes that may not have been safe for men to fly. But once they were able to show that they could fly an airplane, they weren’t accepted as full fledged members of the military like men until many years later. Again, the idea that they were diverse was accepted, the inclusion falls short.
So, in this book, the ideas of Diversity and Inclusion were recognized through not only racial differences, but gender also played a role in how fellow Americans were treated.
Other Types of diversity
People of color have battled against prejudice for a long time. But it isn’t only people of color who have, but anyone that is seen as different. Like people who are members of the LGBTQ+ community or people with disabilities. There are laws in place to make it illegal to treat people differently based on their race, gender, sexual orientation etc… We probably wouldn’t need to have these laws in place if we could just treat all people how we would like to be treated. The Golden Rule. This idea is found in many cultures and religions.
This photo shows hands of different colors and the fact that they are all together. Another great visual example of diversity and inclusion.
What can we do?
How do you feel about diversity and inclusion? That is is great place to start understanding where you are with it. Our teens have probably picked up on and modeled how we approach this subject and are continuing how we feel or are rejecting how we feel and are doing their own thing. Before talking to your teens about how they feel, you want to have a good understanding on where you stand on the subject. It would be a great journal topic. #letswriteaboutit.
More acceptance of diversity
Change is hard for some people. It may be easier to have things stay the same but change and acceptance of others and their differences will help us to grow together. Embracing diversity as a good thing. With diversity comes all sorts of different ethnic foods for us to enjoy, celebrations from other countries to learn about and new ways of doing things to explore. Engaging in these activities and asking about them can lead to great conversations and build relationships with others who are different from ourselves.
More inclusion
Acceptance and inclusion are action words. It is fine to accept diversity. This will help change the mindset about being different from someone else as being a bad thing. Making an effort to reach out to someone who is being treated badly because they are different is inclusion. Take the time to learn about someone who is different and building a relationship with them. Embrace them just for being people and not as being a color or a belief. Seeing the challenges that others face will also help us to accept the idea of diversity and inclusion.
What else can we do?
- Be respectful of all people regardless of how they look or what they believe in. Agree to disagree if needed, but be willing to listen to their side.
- Not only know they are different, but embrace that fact and talk to them about what makes you different from each other.
- Accept the ideas of diversity and inclusion and pursue actions to make the mindset become more of a reality.
- Find a local event or museum to learn more about diverse people. Exposing our teens and ourselves to people who are different from us will go a long way to more inclusion.
- Let’s talk about it! Starting a conversation will help us understand how we and others feel.
Blacks and people of color are sharing the challenges of being treated differently just because of the color of their skin with us. Understanding diversity and the inclusion will go far to change the current views in our society. It will help everybody feel included for who they are.
What experiences have you faced with Diversity and Inclusion of yourself or others? Please let me know in the comments below.
Looking for more resources about this teen challenge or any others? Be sure to check out our Resources page.
A few good summertime reads for you and your teen
Looking for some great teen/young adult reads about the challenges that they face? Check out The Way Series!
Book #1 – The Hard Way – is the story of Paul Jones and his starting his freshman year of high school and how he must navigate dealing with pressure from his peers to do things to fit in.
Book #2 – Shawn’s Way – although it is a continuation of Paul’s journey from The Hard Way, we meet freshman, Shawn Townson. He becomes the target of a bully when an upperclassman decides to take out his frustration on him.
Book #3 – The Street’s Way – is a continuation of The Way Series story which introduces Mikala Kalani as a runaway and homeless teen. She comes to Manor City looking to escape from her abusive stepdad. She arrives with no place to go and must find a way to navigate being homeless in a new city.
Did you know they can read books on their smartphones? Just have them download the Kindle app and they can download copies of these books right from Amazon.
So, click on link below to my books page to learn more about the series!
