Abstract Summary: The purpose of this paper is to come up with effective strategies for the integration of a "culturallydiverse" employee (in this case, a 27-year-old single Japanese female) into the workplace of an American manufacturing facility.
This well-researched and informative paper analyzes the positive as well as productive aspects of maintaining a culturallydiverse staff while focusing mainly in the field of retail.
Abstract This paper discusses the benefits to the psychological well-being of a culturallydiverse workforce. This paper provides various strategies and methods for creating and maintaining a culturallydiverse workforce while also stressing the importance in equality amongst the genders. The writer of this in-depth paper contends and explains why the creation of a culturallydiverse workforce can and will ensure the long-term success of a business organization. The writer delves into the hiring practices of the Wal-Mart Corporation as well as other companies while discussing the pros and cons of their business practices as they relate to implementing a culturallydiverse staff. This paper also explores the issue of sexual and cultural discrimination in the workplace. This paper supplies the results of various published studies as well as statistics and data relevant to this particular topic.
From the Paper "Of course, there are many ways to view possible differences between cultures. Value systems work in some cases, but in others, something like power distance comparisons might be used. Relying on an interpretation of value system differences would be exceptionally useful in a group of collaborators, to guide discussions and prevent disagreements from deteriorating into loud arguments. Understanding cultural differences based on a system of power distances can help immensely when dealing with manager-employee relationships instead.
There are many "large-power-distance cultures". Virtually every society other than the American places more emphasis on the leader as leader. American managers working with multicultural groups may attempt to involve all employees in the decision-making process."
Abstract The paper outlines the history of the voting system in the US and considers voting turnout and the profile of the electorate. The paper focuses on three cities in the US; Atlanta, New York and Cincinnati and analyzes the political life, directions in localpolitics and policies and the major policy areas that have been subject for debate for the political forces in these cities.
Outline:
Introduction
The History of the Voting System
Voting Turnout
The Electorate and Current Political Life
Directions in LocalPolitics and Policies
Conclusion
From the Paper "The political system in America is a rather important issue to be taken into consideration when discussing the definition and content of the notion of democracy. Although its structure is British, it is through the struggle of people such as George Washington, Thomas Paine, but also Abraham Lincoln and John Kennedy that its full content was expanded. In this sense, the component represented by local politics, in a federal governmental system, is essential and offers a perspective on the way in which democracy is applied and defended."
Abstract Southern California teachers have many issues to face in the classroom. Many students have special needs due to disabilities or because they are gifted. This paper shows that, in California, teachers have to be especially prepared for culturaldiversity. They must make adjustments in instructional and behavioral strategies and to their own biases. The paper includes new ways of looking at diversity and teaching methods to introduce. It also includes a table.
Paper Outline:
Abstract
CulturalDiversity in the California Classroom
Culturally Responsive Teaching Strategies
Behavior Strategies
Final Thoughts
References
From the Paper "Dealing with molding behavior for a multicultural group is very similar to any group of students. Children need to feel respected and involved to behave appropriately. When diversity enters the classroom respect comes through cross-cultural understanding. The teacher can facilitate respect by modeling and reinforcing appropriate behavior (Burnette, 1999). There will be some students in the classroom that come from a multi-cultural household. These students have already crossed the barriers of diversity and are wonderful role models for uneducated students."
Abstract This paper discusses business values and culturaldiversity. It includes a background section outlining diversity programs in the workplace, as well as legal, ethical and social responsibility sections. Culturaldiversity in the workplace is considered from the utilitarian ethical standpoint.
From the Paper "Recent years have seen considerable attention paid to diversity programs in the workplace. Affirmative action has come under ..."
Tags:culturaldiversity, ethics, utilitarianism, utilitarian ethics, social responsibility
Abstract This paper explores the importance of culturaldiversity in nursing. The paper examines both the legal, and the moral/ethical obligations of professionals in the field to represent and embrace diversity. The paper concludes that in order to reach this goal, nursing education must include more trans-cultural coursework and emphasis.
From the Paper "Developing sensitivity to diversity is not only a legal obligation in the United States. It is also a moral and ethical obligation that speaks directly to aspects of the social contract and the longstanding human need..."
Abstract This paper states that the still very popular television series "Friends" is geared mainly toward a white audience, which is not representative of today's American landscape, and yet very much represents the marginal way diversity is presented in most television series. The author points out that the all-white "Friends" is being replaced by new sitcoms, such as "Scrubs", with more diverse casts although the main characters are still mainly white. The paper relates that even shows such as "George Lopez", based solely on a Hispanic family living in Los Angeles, fail to present culturaldiversity.
From the Paper "I feel the media relies too heavily on the stereotypical normalcies when showing certain minority groups on television. Most television, as well as motion pictures, portrays the white guy as the "good guy" and most other races as the "bad guy." If they are not the "bad guys," they are usually portrayed as the goofy sidekicks. Most programs, "Friends" is no exception, only use minorities in roles that will portray them a certain way. These may include the Asian dry cleaner owner, the Arab taxicab driver, the African-American gangster, ..."
Abstract This paper examines culturaldiversity in the media. The author focuses upon issues involving media panics, labeling, cultural background reports, anti-racism, subtle and blatant racism, programming quality, and the relationship between the media and violence.
This paper reviews and examines Carlos Cortes' book "The Children are Watching: How the Media Teach About Diversity" which focuses on the impact of television on children.
Abstract This paper analyzes the quality of the television programming content currently geared towards younger audiences while focusing on the lack of culturaldiversity in both film and television. This paper discusses the stereotypical manner in which minorities are often portrayed in film and television and its negative impact on young viewers. This paper examines the author's contention that professional educators must be more involved in the type of content being shown on television. The writer contends and explains why it is imperative for teachers to discuss with their students what they are seeing on television as well as how they perceive what they are seeing.
From the Paper "Cortes is a consultant with the people who make the Dora cartoon on television. He says the producers are trying very hard to show Dora's life correctly. Even though she is a cartoon, it has looks and sounds like Latin America. The show has a panel of people from Latin America who look at the cartoons. They are from countries like Mexico, Cuba, Costa Rica and Argentina. "The idea is to put across messages of understanding, of building cross-cultural, bilingual bridges," Cortes says.
He also likes NBC's "Homicide: Life on the Street," because it shows that a multi-ethnic television show can be liked by a diverse audience. He also likes that the 1997 TV musical, "Cinderella," by Whitney Houston, had an African-American Cinderella with a Filipino-American Prince Charming. "I loved the way it included every combination of interracial couple in the ballroom scene," he says."
Tags: television, film, cultural, diversity, minority, educator, youth, children
Abstract This paper describes the features of culturaldiversity as seen in nursing practice, education, administration, and research. It is important, at all levels of nursing practice, to have a solid understanding of culturaldiversity. The paper shows that ethnocentric approaches to nursing practice are ineffective when dealing with the health and nursing needs of diversecultural groups of patients. Thus, learning about different cultures and their impact on health care is crucial for all nurses, whether they are working in a clinical setting, education, research, or administration.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
The Importance of CulturalDiversity in Nursing
Models of Culture Care Theory
The Effect of Culture on Professional Nurse
Conclusion
From the Paper "As an American nurse, with American values and beliefs, I have a tendency to place efficiency high on my list of priorities. However, it is important for me to consider that many cultures have values that must be taken into consideration, like modesty. While I may be concerned with performing a procedure quickly and efficiently, my patient may be mortified that I am failing to keep him or her covered during the procedure. In addition, as an American nurse, I value self-control. However, a patient that comes from a culture in which emotional expressiveness is the norm may interpret my self-control as coldness."
Abstract This paper explores the impact that culturaldiversity is having on large businesses. It contends that the success of large firms depends upon their acknowledgment of culturaldiversity within their employee and consumer base. It also asserts that companies must implement human resource management strategies that take this diversity into consideration. The paper looks at some of the challenges companies face when their work force is multicultural and suggests that companies must upgrade and enhance the cross-cultural skills of company executives and managers in order to maintain a competitive advantage. Also examined are various domestic diversity models developed in order to deal with some of the problems associated with culturaldiversity and the ways in which they attempt to redress past grievances, cover the weaknesses of domestic diversity differences, and help organizations avert future problems.
From the Paper "The famous 'Fortune' magazine in its issue of 1994 notes that there has been a 2500 percent increase in the total volume of international trade between the period of 1960 and 1993, with numerous business organizations expanding their business portfolios from domestic to the international arenas. (Fortune, 1993) The same magazine in its issue of 1997 also noted that world trade witnessed a tremendous growth rate that was even faster that the world gross domestic product. (Fortune, 1997). It was further noted that the majority of chief executive officers of large national organizations expected that both employment and revenue generation would comprise largely from sources outside the organization's home country, and further that the success of such organization depended upon an effective management of human resources, and keeping an competitive advantage edge over their nearest competitors through such measures as alignment of human resource management strategies and diverse cultures."
Abstract This paper discusses how knowledge of culturaldiversity is important at all levels of nursing, whether nurses are practicing in a clinical setting, education, research, or administration. It looks at how this knowledge comes through communication and education between clients, colleagues, and health care facilities, and how the first step in overcoming culturaldiversity is the awareness of stereotypes and prejudices. It also demonstrates how culturaldiversity is beneficial to all aspects of society and in nursing, since a culturallydiverse group of colleagues encourages an open and flexible atmosphere that is both supportive and educational.
From the Paper "Stereotypes affect all aspects of a community, and in a healthcare setting stereotypes against male nurses can be just as traumatizing and mentally challenging as cultural stereotypes. On top of this, male nurses are sometimes regarded in certain cultures as being inadequate compared to their female counterparts and as a result are "stressed and leaving the profession faster than female nurses because of social stigmas and work conditions" (Healthcare Review, 2002). Education on the cultural significance of these stereotypes is a step towards breaking them down and could benefit the male nurse population in a healthcare institute."
Abstract The writer of this paper details the manner in which various values and cultural traditions can impact an individual's or group's beliefs, attitudes and actions with respect to their day-to-day existence. The writer contends and explains how cultural differences affect communication, interaction and actions amongst different people. In an environment where little culturaldiversity exists, it is likely that cultural differences will have little or no impact on human relations. This paper also discusses the issue of cultural differences in the workplace. Culturaldiversity can lead to conflict as well as collaboration within the workplace, depending on whether or not people are willing to embrace people that are culturally different. This paper examines the impact of culturaldiversity in the classroom, where teachers are being asked to become more culturally literate so that they can better address the needs of all their students, rather than the few who fall into one or two categories. This paper also explores the issue of students with varying cultural backgrounds that have different perceptions of learning and communicating and the manner in which their needs are met.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Analysis of Cultural Traditions and Human Relations
Conclusions
References
From the Paper "Cultural differences even impact students in the classroom. More and more teachers are being asked to become more culturally literate so that they can better address the needs of all their students, rather than the few who fall into one or two categories. Students with varying cultural backgrounds have different perceptions of learning and communicating, thus may have a difficult time achieving in a classroom that does not recognize their cultural differences and methods of learning. For students to be successful in a culturally diverse environment, teachers must work to improve communications and the methods they use to teach, to ensure that they are addressing the needs of a diverse population. To understand how cultural differences impact human relations one must also understand what culture is."
Abstract In today's sports, business, academic and other professional environments, conventional wisdom suggests that demographic and culturaldiversity contribute positively to enhanced performance by groups or teams. Recent research suggests, however, that while diverse skills and abilities may in fact enhance group or team performance, demographic diversity (e.g. differences among team or group members in language, cultural, referential, or social background) may detract from it. This paper explores factors that make a group into a winning team, as well as analyzes both positive and negative effects of demographic characteristics and culturaldiversity, on group and team behavior and performance.
From the Paper "As demonstrated, then, within research; current events, and popular culture alike, demographic and/or cultural diversity either may or may not enhance a team's or a group's performance, depending on the group or team itself; its members; its management and/or other influences; and its shared values, goals, and philosophies. Diversity of skill and ability, research shows, is in general more likely to enhance group or team performance than is cultural diversity."
Abstract This paper explores the issue of culturaldiversity in the classroom, using a case study. It then relates relates the information contained in the interview and links this information to current theory on culturaldiversity in the educational setting. The paper looks at the history of diversity within education in the past in the United States and compares it to the current situation. The paper also contains the writer's personal reflections. It concludes with recommendations and practical applications for this area of education.
Table of Contents:
Interview Narrative
Personal Reflections
Theoretical Analysis
Self Fulfilling Prophecy
Stereotype Threat And Academic Disidentification
Cultural Funds of Knowledge
Recommendations and Practical Application
From the Paper "A third method for integrating culturally specific reading materials into the curriculum is through writing assignments. There are hundreds of ideas for writing assignments and projects that could help to further cultural understanding. For instance, the students might be asked to write an argumentative essay from the viewpoint of another culture. Examples of writing prompts might be to have white students write a story from the perspective of a runaway slave, or for the black students to write from the perspective of a plantation owner. This could be a powerful exercise because they must step outside of their own experience into the shoes of someone else. Many students will find this assignment difficult, but it could be a power ful experience. Assignments that let the students get personal with the other culture will help them develop a greater understanding of their likenesses and differences."
