Representations of Diversity Diverse Professional Connotations

Associations with careers “Just 21 hours. That makes sense for my family!” “One nil for team spirit”

Associations with careers Exercise Try to imagine the following people doing the job stated: Dark-skinned woman as manager of a graphic design company Person in a wheelchair selling shoes An older man selling ladies fashion Asian man as head of a department in an installation company Very young woman as a university professor Do you find any of these examples amusing? What makes it difficult for us to visualise these scenarios? Do you believe that origin, age, physical limitations affect the quality of a particular person’s work?

The assignment of roles People are assigned certain roles depending upon their gender, cultural origin, age, sexual orientation, faith etc. That is why we are more likely to see women working in cafes, men in technical professions and people with a migrant background doing cleaning work etc. There is history and tradition behind the assignment of roles and it appears to be quite normal. The potential of each individual is assigned depending upon their membership of a group (men as a group, women as a group, particular age groups, white people, dark-skinned people, people with physical limitations, people with psychological characteristics, …)

Diversity as a chance People can fit with their assigned roles and stereotypes, but they also may not. Whatever group they belong to, their knowledge, skills and potential need to always be fully recognised. Diversity represents a great opportunity. People with different backgrounds und lifestyles bring new perspectives and approaches to a society and enriches the way it views itself. Diversity leads to development and progress.