Diversity 1

Running Head: Diversity

20 Point diversity paper

Dean Lawhead

Communications 131X – Group Context

Instructor – Sherrill Peterson

October 26, 2009

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Running Head: Diversity

Diversity is basically differences in groups. It can be like the variation of plant life in a

forest of ecosystem. Diversity is also the many types of marine life in a specified water system

from a river or pond to the complete aquatic system of the planet. There are diverse physical and

physiological differences in humans ranging from ethnic, social, and cultural to personal

differences. In this paper I will answer the proposed questions about diversity posed by my

instructor in an effort to show that I have an understanding of the meaning and how I have

perceived diversity in my life.

From my early child I have been in a special group not quite fitted with the norm, I am a

redhead. I’m not like the Caucasians I am grouped with and even in kindergarten had my own

little bit of diversity education. I am also left handed which is by nature the result of having a

brain that functions differently than 90% of the rest of the population of the earth. When bussing

started in the fourth grade I was thinking that it would be nice to have more ethnic diversity in

my social environment but it quickly became evident that I did not fit in with the black children

either, they had their group the white kids had their group and there I was still left out like

Rudolph the red nosed reindeer, similar to the others but different enough to not be part of their

groups. The others intolerance of my group and lack of appreciation and understanding for

diversity left me without a sense of belonging. I was expected to play the role of scapegoat and

take the fall for others failings on many frequent occasions.

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From the type of prejudice I was forced to endure from my childhood and on until this

very day I have learned a great deal about dealing with diversity. Part of this is from the fact as

an adult the Caucasians have accepted me as part of their group but I have not in return accepted

them after the many long years of being outcast. Other groups also want to classify me as

Caucasian and I still feel as though I am not understood. I do not want to be one of those kinds of

people and have developed apart from the normal cultural and social expectations associated

with that group. This gives me a unique perspective on the subject of diversity and being tolerant

of others. Thinking differently than most others I often communicate in manners that are not like

the others in specified groups and when there is greater diversity it is less likely that my special

differences will be singled out. This is of interest in this class as we must all attempt to be

understood and finding unique ways to communicate in order to be remembered and interesting

we all must still conform to some uniform formats.

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Sources: The source for this information has been my life outside the box.