UNDERSTANDING

DIVERSITY
LESSON 1
 §Definition of Diversity
§Loden’s Diversity Wheel
In this §Disability as a component
lesson, you
will learn of Diversity
about §Importance of Supporting
Diversity
 §discuss the meaning and
significance of diversity

§demonstrate understanding the

At the end
ofthis lesson , use of Loden’s Diversity Wheel
you will be by creating their own; and
able to:
§support diversity as a positive
component of relationships,
education and organizations.
 1. What was the video about?
2. As you were watching the
video, what was going
Let s through your mind?
Reflect: 3. What does it mean to ‘put
people in a box’? Do you
think this is a good
thing/bad thing?
 §From the Latin word divertere,
which means to turn away,
separate or oppose.

What is §People’s differences which may

Diversity? relate to their race, ethnicity,
gender, sexual orientation,
language, culture, immigration
status and others (UNESCO,
2017).
 § It means understanding that each
individual is unique, and recognizing
our individual differences.

§ These can be along the dimensions

of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual
Diversity
orientation, socio-economic status,
age, physical abilities, religious
beliefs, political beliefs, or other
ideologies.
 § Diversity means more than just
acknowledging and/or tolerating
difference. It is a set of conscious
practices that involve:

§ Understanding and appreciating

interdependence of humanity,
Diversity cultures, and the natural
environment.

§ Practicing mutual respect for

qualities and experiences that are
different from our own.
 § Understanding that diversity includes
not only ways of being but also ways
of knowing;
§ Recognizing that personal, cultural
and institutionalized discrimination
creates and sustains privileges for
Diversity some while creating and sustaining
disadvantages for others;

§ Building alliances across differences

so that we can work together to
eradicate all forms of discrimination.
 § In 1990, Marilyn Loden and Judy
Rosener developed a framework for
thinking about the different
dimensions of diversity within
individuals and institutions.
LODEN S
DIVERSITY § Depicted as concentric circles, this
WHEEL “Diversity Wheel” can be used in
many different ways to encourage
thinking about values, beliefs, and
dimensions of identity for people and
organizations.
 §The wheel consists of:
§ primary, or core,
§ and secondary dimensions of
LODEN S diversity.
DIVERSITY §The categories suggest how much
WHEEL influence these differences exert
on a person's beliefs, expectations
and life experience.
 § In 1990, Marilyn Loden and Judy
Rosener developed a framework for
thinking about the different
dimensions of diversity within
individuals and institutions.
LODEN S
DIVERSITY § Depicted as concentric circles, this
WHEEL “Diversity Wheel” can be used in
many different ways to encourage
thinking about values, beliefs, and
dimensions of identity for people and
organizations.
 LODEN S
DIVERSITY
WHEEL
 § The most powerful and sustaining
differences, ones that usually have an
important impact on us throughout
LODEN S DIVERSITY WHEEL
our lives
PRIMARY/ § Loden presented six primary
CORE dimensions that help shape our basic
DIMENSIONS self-image and our worldviews: age,
ethnicity, gender, physical
abilities/qualities, race, and
sexual orientation.
 § Other important differences that are
acquired later in life and presumably
have less influence in defining who we
LODEN S DIVERSITY WHEEL
are.

§ These are more mutable differences

that we acquire, discard, and/or
SECONDARY
modify throughout our lives.
DIMENSIONS
§ The secondary dimensions include:
educational background, income,
marital status, work experience,
military experience, religion and
geographic location.
 1. On a piece of paper, write
down salient characteristics
that would best describe who
you are as a person.
Let s Try
This! 2. Classify these characteristics
according to the dimensions of
Loden’s Diversity Wheel.
LODEN S FOUR
PRINCIPLES
FOR MANAGING
BEHAVIOR
 1.What does it mean to be
disabled?

2.How would you approach a

Let s person with disability? How do
Ponder! you think your personal
approach would affect the
people around you?
 § A disability is any continuing condition
that restricts everyday activities.

§ The Disability Services Act (1993) defines

What is ‘disability’ as:
disability? a) which is attributable to an intellectual,
psychiatric, cognitive, neurological,
sensory or physical impairment or a
combination of those impairments
 b) which is permanent or likely to be
permanent;

c) which may or may not be of a

chronic or episodic nature; and
What is
disability? d) which results in substantially
reduced capacity of the person for
communication, social interaction,
learning or mobility and a need for
continuing support services.
 §Disability is an important facet
of human diversity, it is an
DISABILITY inescapable element of human
and experience because an
DIVERSITY enormous number of people
around the world are disabled.
 § Anyone can become disabled at any
time, and, barring sudden or
accidental death, most people will
eventually become disabled to a
DISABILITY
significant degree.
and
DIVERSITY
§ It is important to acknowledge
Persons with Disabilities as unique
individuals who are important parts
of the spectrum of diversity.
 1.Better Education in Diverse
Populations

§ Diversity among students in education

IMPORTANCE directly impacts their performance.
OF
SUPPORTING § Studies show that students work better
DIVERSITY in a diverse environment, enabling
them to concentrate and push
themselves further when there are
people of other backgrounds working
alongside them.
 2.Students feel safer.
§ A recent study in the journal “Child
Development” illustrated that students
feel safer in school and in life when they
IMPORTANCE are educated in a diverse setting.
OF 3.Promote empathy and reduces
SUPPORTING prejudice.
DIVERSITY
§ Through understanding various cultures
and social groups, students are able to
make connections from their own lives to
the lives of their peers.
 4.It fosters creativity.

§ Diverse classrooms encourage

problem-solving, critical thinking,
IMPORTANCE and creativity.
OF
SUPPORTING § In a diverse classroom students bring
DIVERSITY various perspectives that challenge
their peers to think creatively and
collaborate to find an appropriate
solution for their group.
 § http://www.qcc.cuny.edu/diversity/definition.html
§ http://www.loden.com/Web_Stuff/Articles_-_Videos_-
§ _Survey/Entries/2010/9/3_Global_Diversity_Puts_New_Spi
n_on_Loden s_Diversity_Wheel.html

§ https://periodicos.ufsc.br/index.php/desterro/article/dow
SOURCES nload/7325/6 748

§ https://www.kickboardforschools.com/blog/post/5-
benefits-of- teaching-classroom-diversity