2.11: Why It Matters- Social Diversity in the Workplace

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Why learn about the impact of diversity of race, gender, ability, religion, and age in the workplace?

We all have our strengths and our weaknesses, things we excel in and things we struggle with. We have our endearing personality traits and our sometimes annoying ones. Could you imagine working with only people exactly like you? People from the same background, with the same experiences, the same personalities? Probably not. And that’s a good thing! Diversity helps to keep things interesting, exciting, and progressing. Interacting with a large variety of individuals can help stimulate your mind and present ideas and opinions you may not have ever discovered on your own.

Harpers Ferry National Park team The individuals have differing racial backgrounds (including white, Black, and Latino). They also differ in gender and age.

A diverse workforce helps raise awareness of cultural worldview and attitudes towards cultural differences.

Recognizing diversity in your daily life can help you to see the world from new and different perspectives. Diversity is an essential part of every organization and it is important to recognize how it influences the workforce. Understanding diversity can help us to work better in group or team situations and gives us insight into the behavior of an organization. This module will explore the history, complexity, benefits, and challenges of social diversity in the workplace. Let’s get started!

Contributors and Attributions

Why It Matters: Social Diversity in the Workplace. Authored by: Freedom Learning Group. Provided by: Lumen Learning. License: CC BY: Attribution

NPS photo taken at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. Provided by: National Park Service. Located at: www.nps.gov/orgs/1563/inclusion-and-diversity.htm. License: Public Domain: No Known Copyright