UNIT.2. Spectrum of diversity
The word “diversity” is positive, it is vibrant, it is fun, it evokes progress, openness, tolerance. It creates a consensus: we need more diversity, we want more diversity, we should strive for more diversity. Youth participation, in other words, fosters a sense of citizenship and makes policy processes more transparent and accountable towards young people.
It helps young people build self-confidence, develop a sense of initiative, and acquire and test skills that are relevant for the workplace, such as communication or teamwork, in a practical environment.
2.1 Make diverse connections
Young people are stakeholders in the European democratic system. They express ideas and preferences and defend diverse interests. John Maxwell in his Becoming a Person of Influence wrote: “Connection is …absolutely critical if you want to influence people in a positive way. When you navigate for others, you come alongside them and travel their road for a while, helping them handle some of the obstacles and difficulties in their life. Yet when you connect with them, you are asking them to come alongside you and travel your road for your and their mutual benefit.”
There is a difference between the act of connecting and the art of connecting. The act of connection requires listening and good verbal skills, but the art of connection also requires respect, sharing similar interests, experiences, and values, having a sincere interest in helping people grow and succeed, the ability to empathize.
2.2 Using humor in diversity
“Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.” Victor Borge
Humor refers to the tendency to experience or express what is amusing and funny, which is always accompanied with emotional response and vocal-behavioral expressions, such as laughter and smiling (Chen and Martin, 2007; Martin and Ford, 2018). Humor is universal but also culturally specific. Cultural difference in humor perception directly influences humor usage.
Humour can be used in diversity when we try to create a safe environment where young people can be relaxed and not defensive: sharing diverse jokes in a classroom or outside, humour-based learning (through jokes and smiles in terms of specific country-culture, habits, and routines etc.)
Diversity means that the jokes made do not upset anyone, no matter what country and culture they come from.
2.3 Handling stereotypes
Stereotyping shapes societal expectations of that group and informs decisions made about the group and its members and influences and underpins experiences of inequality and discrimination for many individuals and groups. A stereotype is “… a fixed, over-generalized belief about a particular group or class of people.” (Cardwell, 1996). For example, ‘’Germans are always on time.’’
Food for thought questions
- What is ‘humour’ for you?
- How far do you agree that understanding humour is important when integrating into a new culture?
- Why do societies have stereotypes?
- Which are the most common stereotypes?