Jayden Szeto -- Week 12 -- The importance and power of diversity
In an ever changing world, there is a force that always shapes our societies, workplaces, and our own experiences: diversity. It isn’t just about ticking an amount of boxes, or meeting certain quotas; it’s about embracing multiple backgrounds, perspectives, and ideas that end up improving our own selves and perspectives.
Think of diversity as paintbrushes. When people from different cultures, genders, ages, and life experiences come together, they get mixed into something new, and offer unique perspectives and ideas. Just like how an animal ecosystem is better with more diversity, diverse teams in the workplace, school, and just in general usually outperform groups that all think and act the same. In a Forbes study, they say that “diverse teams deliver 60% better results” and make “better decisions in 87% of cases” (FDM). With more diverse groups, there are more skill sets, better understanding of customers, and just in general more talent.
Source
Diversity’s importance extends beyond just in the workplace and innovations, though. It is a big part of social justice, promoting fairness and equality by giving voices to underrepresented groups. In a diverse society, everyone has a higher chance of contributing and succeeding, which can lead to less discrimination and prejudice. This is similar to how during WW2 there were little Japanese people in the government, and the Japanese had little to no voice in the government, which led to them unfairly being put into internment camps. Having a diverse environment in schools, justice systems, and government all play a role in taking down the barriers that have been here for so long.
Diversity isn’t just about stuff on the larger scale of things; it also improves stuff in our personal lives as well. Interacting with people from different backgrounds enriches our own understanding of the world, as well as challenging our own views which often helps us learn.
In today’s world, where everyone is connected and global collaboration is necessary, diversity is more than just a virtue—it is a necessity. It prepares us for the real world, where we will need to connect, empathize, and work with the people around us. Of course, embracing diversity does come with its challenges. It requires us to listen to different views, listen well, and engage in a lot of conversations. At the end of the day, the rewards definitely outweigh the harder bits, and in the end, leads us to live better lives.
Hi Jayden! I really enjoyed reading your blog. I really like your metaphor of thinking of diversity as paintbrushes—as it is definitely true how embracing new cultures and perspectives is a beautiful and insightful thing. I also appreciate how you brought up the Forbes study as evidence of why diversity is important. The historical example of Japanese internment during WW2 definitely serves as an important reminder of the consequences of excluding certain voices from decision-making processes. I agree with you on how interacting with people from diverse backgrounds further develops our understanding of the world and challenges our own perspectives which allows for continuous learning and growth. Personally, I enjoy learning more about other cultures and also agree and encourage others to do the same. Overall, I enjoyed reading your blog as it was very insightful!
ReplyDeleteHi Jayden,
ReplyDeleteI truly enjoyed the topic of your blog as it is one I am quite passionate about. Diversity, especially in the landscape of America, is incredibly important to ensure that each and every individual feels respected and represented. I think your example of Japanese internment being partly due to the lack of Japanese representation in government is a perfect instance depicting the sheer importance of diversity in social groups. In a way, diversity almost guarantees a voice, as people who are similar to each other in racial, ethnic, or religious aspects, often have similar opinions. Your blog also allowed me to reflect on the importance of diversity within the workplace and innovative spaces, as I never previously realized how important it is to work with people who have similar ideals and beliefs as you. I wonder if my ignorance of this importance is due to my South Asian ethnicity being similar to the majority of my peers at American High School.
Hi Jayden! I enjoyed reading your blog, as you effectively underscore the significance of diversity in all aspects of life and emphasize its true transformative potential. Your analogy of diversity being like paintbrushes, blending together to create something new and innovative, is particularly compelling. It illustrates the value of diverse perspectives as, together, we can paint something greater than ourselves, and instill change greater than we could hav ever anticipated. I believe that beside simply fostering diversity in teams, it is important to create spaces where diverse voices are not only present but also actively listened to and respected. In order to move forward as a society, embracing diversity, it is also crucial that we work to dismantle systemic barriers and address power imbalances that perpetuate inequality. Furthermore, I was really intrigued by your incorporation of the historical example of the lack of Japanese representation in government during World War II which lead to unfair treatment and internment camps. It really adds a layer of depth to your discussion on diversity, highlighting the real-world consequences of systemic exclusion and discrimination.
ReplyDeleteHi Jayden,
ReplyDeleteIn applying to summer programs this year, I found many of them mention diversity as one of their values and even requirements. However, I thought most of that was just to, as you said, "tick a certain amount of boxes" or "meet certain quotas."
Growing up in the Bay Area, there is a lot of interest in STEM from males and females alike. At least in my own bubble of friends, the majority of us want to go into science or medicine related fields. Therefore, in my skewed view of the world, there was a lot of female interest in STEM and it was not really seen as a minority anymore. However, I was recently scrolling through the staff list at different hospitals when trying to find shadowing opportunities and I noticed that there really were not many female, and many fewer females of color. This was a shock to me, weirdly. It seems like an obvious things to many, but to me, this moment really showed me the need and importance of diversity.
Women in medicine are underrepresented in many ways including as the doctors/nurses/staff and as patients as women are underrepresented in clinical trials and often under-treated. With more diverse employment, this issue could be greatly reduced.