Cultural Diversity Meaning? How & Why Diverse Culture Makes Our World Better?

Cultures build a better world

What is Cultural Diversity, and why is it important? The world is a colorful canvas of people from all walks of life and backgrounds. In every corner of the globe, there exist people from different religions, racial identifications, ethnic identities who speak different languages, and celebrate different holidays.

Culture shapes us. It shapes our identity, it influences how we behave, and it makes us who we are.

Culture brings people together equally in celebration and in grief. Without culture and cultural diversity, the world would be a sad and dull place.

In recent years, racial and cultural issues have been the highlight of many news channels and online discussion platforms. Even though many believe the media may be blowing things out of proportion for rating, these discriminations are still a harsh reality for many people.

Cultural Diversity Definition

Cultural diversity, or sometimes referred to as multiculturalism, is a quality of diverse and many different cultures. Cultural Diversity a system that recognizes and respects the existence and presence of diverse groups of people within a society.

The system values their socio-cultural differences and encourages each individual to celebrate it.

An environment with diverse cultures also inspires everyone within the society to make significant contribution to empower their cultural identity as well as others’.

The phrase cultural diversity doesn’t only relate to or refer to matters of race or ethnicities. A Cultural diverse workplace also means a system where people are recognized and respected for their different interests, talents, and skills.

Why is Cultural Diversity important?

Recognizing that the world is made up of many different people from different backgrounds and cultures is the first step towards a more understanding and harmonious society. Differences are not what divides us, but rather it should be celebrated as something that unites us as humans.

It’s not uncommon for people to fear what they don’t understand. Through a rich diversity of cultures, discrimination and barriers can be stamped out because it teaches the society that different doesn’t mean bad.

Culture is the lens in which we evaluate our environment, so it can be tough to see a culture that’s either different or contradictory to ours. Due to this, we may develop preconceived notions about certain cultures that may cause us to discriminate.

Cultural Diversity and Society

Through an inclusive and diverse len, we can explore and understand how other cultures operate and function. Opening our eyes to the existence of diverse and different cultures allows us to see the world from other’s points of view. We can see more, appreciate more, and understand more.

Understanding is a crucial step before accepting and appreciating, it is the same for understanding different cultures around the world. Even if when we’re unable to understand why certain cultures do the things they do, we’re able to acknowledge it as their custom and not discriminate.

However, total acceptance needs tact and awareness. Some cultures and cultural practices may violate human rights in the general society’s view. We must work towards educating the public without discriminating or insulting the community that culture or cultural practices belong to.

Examples of Cultural Diversity

Culture is a set of patterns of human activity within a society or community. It’s symbolic and significant to the members of the community that identifies with that culture. There are many cultural elements within one culture.

Cultural inclusion exists in every aspect of human practice. The are many aspects of cultural groups where they have various characteristics ranging from religion, language, race, and ethnicities, gender, and geographical locations to name a few.

Various cultural elements exist within these aspects. These elements can be similar to each other because some of them may share cultural roots.

Cultural Diversity and Inclusion in the workplace

An organization that promotes a multicultural workplace extends beyond just the nationality of its employees. Encouraging cultural diversity in a workplace means including various factors such as language, religion, sexual orientation, and political views.

Even though everyone in an organization may be able to speak the primary language, it’s significant to have people from various backgrounds and cultures. It’s healthy to encourage an environment of representation and inclusion at the workplace to promote teamwork.

Employees are known to work better together when people from various backgrounds and cultures can see eye to eye. A culturally diverse organization will be able to pool people with different experiences and points of view together towards common goals.

Cultural Diversity Training

Cultural Diversity training is crucial to create a multi-cultural environment. You can read more about it from our diversity and inclusion training guide.

Another type of cultural diversity training is cultural competency training to improve cultural knowledge, and cultural proficiency. The best-case scenario is to accomplish social cohesion for a better world.

Cultural Diversity in Healthcare

Having cultural diversity in healthcare is crucial in being able to provide the best care for patients. A healthcare institution that promotes cultural diversity can improve access of care for racial minorities. It offers a better choice for the patients and their satisfaction.

It can also facilitate the communication between patients and clinicians because the patients can converse in a language they’re most comfortable with.

Miscommunication in healthcare can have a devastating impact. Cultural diversity can ensure better and more efficient communication within the healthcare ecosystem.

Cultural Diversity in Education and School              

Cultural diversity in education means more educational opportunities for racial and ethnic minorities. Teachers who are aware of cultural diversity in education will be able to teach students of racial or ethnic minorities better.

Teachers and educators can understand how these students may have different ways of communicating and interacting with others. More importantly, cultural diversity in education or school also allows the students to understand and respect people of other cultures.

When diversity is taught early in their lives, students are less likely to be discriminating or bigoted. They’re able to communicate and interact with people of any background or culture.

This is a good foundation for them because they will carry this respect and understanding throughout their lives.

Cultural Diversity Quotes Example

Here are a few of my favourite Cultural Diversity Quotes:

We have become not a melting pot but a beautiful mosaic. Different people, different beliefs, different yearnings, different hopes, different dreams.” 

Jimmy Carter

Another cultural diversity quote that I like,

It is never too late to give up your prejudices.”

 Henry David Thoreau

Another great saying and quote from our Chief Diversity Officer Brian Ka Chan is,

Embracing cultural diversity is like a new great way to experience our beautiful world new again, again, and again from new perspectives. Your life will become richer and richer every time you see it from a different len.

Brian Ka Chan, Chief Diversity Officer at Diversity Social

Conclusion

It’s almost impossible now to live in a place where it’s strictly monoculture. Travels and urbanization have widened our horizons in better understanding the world around us.

It may be difficult for some of us to challenge our preconceived notions or our upbringing, but embracing cultural diversity can help us to become better people.

Change starts with us so, we need to foster cultural diversity at every chance we have. Giving others a chance to be understood will allow others to understand us as well.

At the same time, we must educate ourselves about the pros and cons of cultural diversity so that the change we want to make won’t be one-sided or in violation of anyone’s rights.

Best Cultural Diversity Video