Diversity Consciousness : Opening Our Minds to People, Cultures, and Opportunities

by Bucher, Richard D.

• ISBN13: 9780130803382
• ISBN10: 0130803383
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-09-01
• Publisher: Prentice Hall

Summary

For undergraduate courses in Success/Orientation, Race and Ethnic Relations, Cultural Diversity in the Workplace (Business Management), Interpersonal Human Relations, and Allied Health/Human Services; also for teacher-training education courses, and staff/professional development workshops.This empowering study on human diversity helps students develop the ability to understand, respect, and value diversity i.e., raise their "diversity consciousness" and demonstrates how opening one's mind to the views of other peoples and cultures is central for a quality education and successful career. Personalizing the learning experience by weaving a wide variety of real-life student experiences and perspectives throughout the book, it discusses topics in a style that promotes self-reflection and dialogue, and uses an approach to diversity that is balanced, comprehensive, well-integrated, and relevant to students' goals in life. Complete with self-reflective journal questions and interactive exercises, it offers thorough and current discussions on diversity and workplace issues what they are, their significance, and their relevance to the reader; discusses concepts such as teamwork, conflict management, leadership, racism, prejudice, and communication in a clear and concise fashion; and zeroes in on the relationship between an employee's success in the workplace and his/her ability to develop flexibility in their thinking so that he/she can positively and effectively deal with a variety of diversity issues.

Table of Contents

Foreword	ix
Preface	xi
About the Student Editors	xv
In Appreciation	xvii
Diversity: An Overview	1	(25)
Chapter Objectives	1	(1)
Our Changing Cultural Landscape	2	(8)
Views of Diversity: Assimilation and Pluralism	10	(3)
Dimensions of Diversity	13	(4)
Diversity between and within Groups	17	(1)
Diversity Myths	18	(2)
What Is Diversity Consciousness?	20	(1)
Diversity Education	21	(2)
Exercises	23	(3)
Diversity Skills and Success	26	(31)
Chapter Objectives	26	(1)
Definitions of Success	27	(3)
Sociocultural Theory and Success	30	(2)
Why Diversity Skills Are Important	32	(13)
Diversity Skills and Individual/Organizational Benefits	45	(5)
The Costs of Inadequate Diversity Skills	50	(2)
Exercises	52	(5)
Personal and Social Barriers to Success	57	(37)
Chapter Objectives	57	(2)
Six Barriers to Success	59	(24)
Acknowledging and Overcoming Diversity Barriers	83	(6)
Exercises	89	(5)
Developing Diversity Consciousness	94	(33)
Chapter Objectives	94	(1)
Diversity Consciousness	95	(1)
Isolation	96	(5)
Six Areas of Development	101	(17)
Strategies for Developing Diversity Consciousness	118	(4)
A Continuing Process	122	(1)
Exercises	123	(4)
Communicating in a Diverse World	127	(31)
Chapter Objectives	127	(1)
Communication and Culture	128	(4)
Electronic Communication	132	(2)
Diversity Consciousness and Communication	134	(8)
The Importance of Communication	142	(2)
Barriers to Effective Communication	144	(2)
Hot Buttons	146	(3)
Difficult Dialogues	149	(2)
Communicating Inclusively	151	(3)
Exercises	154	(4)
Teamwork	158	(34)
Chapter Objectives	158	(1)
Teams Today	159	(8)
Developing Teamwork Skills	167	(1)
Diversity Consciousness and Teaming	168	(2)
Team Leadership	170	(3)
High-Performance Teams	173	(4)
Obstacles to Teamwork	177	(2)
Conflict	179	(8)
Exercises	187	(5)
Conclusion	192	(17)
Chapter Objectives	192	(2)
Opening Your Mind to Opportunities	194	(2)
Future Challenges	196	(8)
Exercises	204	(5)
Bibliography	209	(12)
Suggested Readings	221	(6)
Index	227