1. © 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill Diversity and Your Relationships with Others Chapter 12

2. © 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill Living in a World of Diversity Our world is increasingly interconnected and interdependent By the mid-21 st century, more people in the United States will be of African, Asian, Latin American and Arabic descent than those of Western European descent. Diversity encompasses racial, gender, sexual orientation, age, mental and physical characteristics. Additional diversity traits include religion, education, income level, and individual differences.

3. © 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill Living in a World of Diversity Place figure 12.1 here

4. © 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill Race, Ethnicity, and Culture Race – –Traditionally, biologically determined physical characteristics that set one group apart from another Ethnicity – –Shared natural origins or cultural patterns Culture – –The learned behaviors, beliefs, and attitudes that are characteristic of an individual society or population, and the products that they create

5. © 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill Building Cultural Competence Cultural competence is learned –It is a knowledge of other people’s backgrounds, customs, perspectives, and history –Provides a basis for civic engagement –Permits us to act with civility toward others –It allows us to make the most in our contribution to society

6. © 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill Diversity – Prepare Accepting diversity as a valued part of your life –We form relationships more easily with people who are similar to us –Yet we can grow and be challenged when we seek out people that are different from us –Learn what motivates other people and become aware of new ways to think about family, relationships, earning a living, and the value of education Learning to accept others who are different from you is an important job skill

7. © 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill Diversity – Organize Exploring your own prejudices and stereotypes –Prejudice -- the evaluations or judgments of members of a group based on their being members of that group Gender prejudice would be to judge someone based on their gender on not on their individual abilities –Discrimination – the behavior toward members of group based on their being members of that group –Stereotypes – beliefs and expectations about members of a group that are held simply because they are members of that group

8. © 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill Diversity – Work Developing Cultural Competence –Study other cultures and customs –Travel –Participate in service learning –Don’t ignore people’s backgrounds –Don’t make assumptions about who people are –Accept differences

9. © 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill Diversity – Evaluate Ask yourself the following questions: –How do I make judgments about people? –Who are my friends? –Do I openly express positive values about diversity? –Am I passive or assertive regarding prejudicial or stereotypical remarks? –Am I learning about other cultures? –Am I evenhanded in my relationships? –Do I recognize that all people have the same basic needs? –Do I look down upon other racial or ethnic groups because I take pride in my own? –Do I look at things with different perspectives?

10. © 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill Diversity – Rethink Understand how your own racial, ethnic, and cultural background affects others Regardless of background, other students at your school share similar concerns about success, and life goals Bridging differences can create lasting social ties

11. © 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill Building Lasting Relationships Making friends –Invest time in others –Reveal yourself –Let others know you like them –Accept others as they are, not as you would like them to be –Show concern and caring –Not everyone makes a good friend

12. © 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill Building Lasting Relationships The R-Word: Relationships –Trust –Honesty –Mutual support –Loyalty –Acceptance –Willingness to embrace change

13. © 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill Communicating in Relationships Communicating well is a blend of talking and listening –Sometimes silence is the best support you can give Improve your listening skills –Stop talking! –Demonstrate that you are listening –Use reflective feedback –Ask questions –Admit when you are distracted

14. © 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill Loneliness One can be happy alone or lonely in a crowd. Loneliness is subjective. –When people are not experiencing the connectedness with others that they desire, they are lonely. Strategies for overcoming loneliness include: –Become involved in campus activities –Find a study partner –Know that you’re not alone in your loneliness –Take advantage of orientation and first- year student activities –Take a job on campus –Remember that loneliness is typically temporary

15. © 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill Avoiding and Handling Conflicts Remember to make “I” statements Remember that conflict is not necessarily bad Conflict resolution tips: –Stop, look, and listen –Defuse the argument –Get personal –Listen to the real message –Show that you’re listening –If you are angry, acknowledge it –Ask for clarification –Be specific –Don’t think it’s a zero-sum game –End the relationship if emotional or physical abuse occurs

16. © 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill When Relationships Are Over Time can work to heal the heartache of a lost relationship Other strategies: –Stay busy –Accept your feelings –Talk with a friend or relative –Write about the relationship –Talk to a professional