Things to Know About Diversity

Tips for learning about diversity:

• Be aware of microaggressions, which are subtle, unintentional behaviors that represent unconscious, deeply-ingrained biases.
• Perceptions of the dominant group often differ from those of the minority or oppressed group, based on experience.
• Becoming culturally competent involves not just having knowledge about other groups or the skills to interact appropriately, but also awareness of aspects of your own identity.
• Appreciate aspects of your own identity, both privileged and stigmatized (e.g., you might belong to an oppressed group in terms of religion, but a privileged or dominant group in terms of race).
• Shift your mindset when you have conflict with others around issues of diversity from "They need to change" to "What can I change?"
• Question yourself when you feel reactive about diversity: "What am I missing in this situation?" "How might my desire to be proven right (or innocent) affect my view of the other person or reality?"
• Increase your tolerance for making mistakes as you strive to build relationships with people from whom you differ.
• Learn to "sit in the fire" and deal with difficult emotions (e.g., guilt regarding privilege or anger regarding discrimination).
• Be an ally (e.g., if you're a white person, speak up about racial inequality).
• Appreciate your allies.

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