Ch 5 post 1

Living in America gives each of us the opportunity to see and experience different cultures.  Throughout my life I have gone to school and worked in environments where my peers come from all different races, ages,and ethnicities.  Even though we are all living in the same place, we forget sometimes that our pasts as well as our different cultures affect our communication.  People who do not understand others differences create or rely on stereotypes to get an idea of who the person is; for example a common stereotype is "all Asians are geniuses". Although this may be true for some people who are Asian, it is not always the case for others.  As a result to stereotypes, valuing diversity does not come easy.  We forget that having different types of people from different backgrounds can really benefit a group and offer a new perspective.  Many people feel more secure within their own cultural or gender group and don't make the effort to reach out to others.  By having a common culture, you can predict how the group will work together, and have similar belief systems on what is appropriate behavior and communication.  Although this is a comfort area, you do not get the same results as you would if you had a more diverse group.  Some suggestions to help people value diversity in the group is to really get to know each person in the group and make a real effort to see where they are coming from or what is their background.  You may find that by knowing their past you can understand their perspective.  Another suggestion and a good group building idea would to take part in retreats with the group, get to know people on a different level then at work.  Lastly, try not to let stereotypes enter the groups and effect what everyone is trying to accomplish.