Navigating the Diversity Landscape

Avoid Making Assumptions

By now you should be aware of the many ways diversity can be both observable and less apparent. Based on surface clues, we may be able to approximate someone’s age and perhaps their geographical origin, but even with those observable characteristics, we cannot be sure about how people define themselves. If we rely too heavily on assumptions, we may be buying into stereotypes, or generalizations. Stereotyping robs people of their individual identities. If we buy into stereotypes, we project a profile onto someone that is probably not true. Prejudging people without knowing them, better known as prejudice or bias, has consequences for both the person who is biased and the individual or group that is prejudged. In such a scenario, the intimacy of real human connection is lost. Individuals are objectified, meaning that they only serve as symbolic examples of who we assume they are instead of the complex, intersectional individuals we know each person to be.

Stereotyping may be our way of avoiding others’ complexities. When we stereotype, we do not have to remember distinguishing details about a person. We simply write their stories for ourselves and let those stories fulfill who we expect those individuals to be. Individuals of other backgrounds, with similar abilities, may have been overlooked because they do not fit the stereotype of who others suspect them to be.

Being inclusive does not require a deep-seated knowledge of the backgrounds and perspectives of everyone you meet. That would be impossible. But avoiding assumptions and being considerate will build better relationships and provide a more effective learning experience. It takes openness and self-awareness and sometimes requires help or advice, but learning to be sensitive — practicing assumption avoidance — is like a muscle you can strengthen.

Be Mindful of Microaggressions

Whether we mean to or not, we sometimes offend people by not thinking about what we say and the manner in which we say it. One danger of limiting our social interactions to people who are from our own social group is in being insensitive to people who are not like us. The term microaggression refers to acts of insensitivity that reveal our biases against someone outside of our community. Those biases can be toward race, gender, nationality, or any other diversity variable. The individual on the receiving end of a microaggression is reminded of the barriers to complete acceptance and understanding in the relationship.

Let’s consider an example. Amaia (pronounced Ama-ee-a) is new to her office job. One of her colleagues told Amaia that the pronunciation of her name was too difficult to remember so she was just going to call her Amy. How would you feel if such a comment were directed at you? How would you feel if people you worked with didn’t care to learn how to say your name?

One reaction to this interaction might be to say, “So what? Lots of people have nicknames” or “Lots of people with difficult-to-pronounce names adopt names that are easier to say.” Many people are happy to have nicknames or choose their own preferred name, but that is quite different than being told what someone is going to call you. It may ignore the pain and invalidation of the experience. Even if you could simply not be bothered by it, there is a compounding effect of being frequently, if not constantly, barraged by such experiences.