Infusing Diversity into the Curriculum

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Infusing Diversity into the Curriculum Tracy L.
Dietz, Ph.D. Department of Sociology and
Anthropology University of Central Florida 2003
Summer Faculty Development Institute
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The Cold Within Six humans trapped
happenstance In black and bitter cold Each one
possessed a stick of wood, Or so the storys
told. Their dying fire in need of logs, The
first woman held hers back For the faces around
the fire She noticed one of them was black.
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The next man looking cross the way Saw one not of
his church, And couldnt bring himself to
give The first his stick of birch. The third one
sat in tattered clothes He gave his coat a
hitch. Why should his log be put to use To warm
the idle rich?
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The rich man just sat back and thought Of the
wealth he had in store And how to keep what he
had earned From the lazy, shiftless poor The
black mans face bespoke revenge As the fire
passed from his sight, for all he saw in his
stick of wood Was a chance to spite the white.
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And the last man of his forlorn group Did naught
except for gain. Giving only to those who
gave Was how he played the game. The logs held
tight in deaths still hands Was proof of human
sin. They didnt die from the cold without They
died from the cold within. -- Author Unknown
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WHAT IS DIVERSITY? Diversity represents the mix
of characteristics that makes each person unique.
DIVERSITY IS... The quality of being different
and unique.
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MANAGING DIVERSITY IS... Creating and
sustaining an environment where differences and
similarities are used creatively to fully enhance
potential. VALUING DIVERSITY IS... Recognizing
and respecting the importance of human
differences.
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Dimensions of Diversity
Sexual Orientation
Age
Education
Gender
Work Experience
Religious Beliefs
S.E.S.
Physical Ability
Ethnicity
Marital Status
Etc.
Geographic Location
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How Does Diversity Affect Us?
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What is Prejudice? Prejudice is a rigid and
irrational generalization about an entire
category of people.
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What is Discrimination? Discrimination is the
unequal treatment of a who category of people.
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Types of Discrimination

• Individual versus Institutional Discrimination
• Institutional discrimination refers to bias in
  attitudes or action inherent in the operation of
  societys institutions.
• Overt versus Covert Discrimination
• Overt is open blatant
• Covert is hidden not obvious.

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Identifying Discrimination
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Valentine's Day Ads
Unfamiliar Understanding of Personal Prejudice,
Cultural Bias, Institutional Discrimination
Disney Animated Films
Barbie
BET
No Discrimination
Familiar Understanding of Personal Prejudice,
cultural bias, institutional discrimination
Boy/Girl Scouts of America
Band-aids
Marriage Laws
Mrs.
US Military's "don't ask, don't tell"
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Making It Personal
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How Does Diversity Fit Into Your
Classroom/Discipline?

• What are some ways that you might integrate this
  study into your class?