As globalization keeps on increasing in the world, there is a need for more communication among people from different cultures than for example fifty years ago. Diversity can be defined as acknowledging, understanding, accepting, valuing and celebrating the differences among people with respect to age, class, ethnicity, gender, and their abilities. It means acknowledging people despite their race, sexual orientation and spiritual practice (Parillo, 2009).
Issues of diversity have been of great value and importance to the US, bearing in mind that it has one of the most diversified populations as a result of immigration. One major benefit is that diversity has enabled promotion of humanistic values. With people of diverse cultures, it demonstrates that it celebrates and appreciates the diversity that exists in people (Parillo, 2009). Another benefit is that, diversity has helped the country to improve its productivity and profitability. It has also helped in creating a bigger pool of talent for organizations thus giving the country a competitive edge, which helps it to progress in a competitive world. Diversity also enables exchange of innovative ideas (Parillo, 2009).
On the other hand, diversity has produced negative dynamics such as ethnocentrism, stereotyping and cultural clashes. In many cases, cultural differences between the majority and the minority groups have created barriers to full participation of the minority members. This can lead to poor work performance, hence reduced levels of productivity in the country.
There are several ways through which we can foster acceptance and cultural pluralism in the United States. One such way is holding workshops for people working in organizations and bringing skilled people to run the workshops. People should be taught about diversity and the need to embrace its principles. It is also important to encourage diversity in organizations. The same kind of strict adherence to policy and procedures in organizations should also apply to issues of diversity.
It is evident that media stereotypes are unavoidable especially in advertising and entertainment. The media perpetuates stereotypes in one way or another. What people see, hear and read in the newspaper or in movies has a great deal in influencing the relationships between different groups. How African, Hispanic and Asian Americans are portrayed in these mediums often stereotypes and reinforces negative images of each group (Ponterotto et al., 2006). The lack of diversity in the media also impacts how stories are covered, and limits opportunities for the minorities in these professions.
Racial profiling is also a problematic aspect of the media as it serves to further biases and stereotypes. As a result of miscommunication, a reader assumes that the images and facts displayed represent the racial group as a whole. In local TV news, the images and programs have served to cause what researchers call modern racism (Ponterotto et al., 2006).
Everyone has a responsibility towards reducing prejudice and stereotype. People should thus travel to different places, especially to places that challenge their world view. One should take a course on prejudice and if possible, discussions among people of different social groups and …