DIVERSITY-BASED: a basic understanding of, a commitment to, and a valuing of the unique perspectives and differences that people bring to relationships. Decisions and behaviors are driven by a cognitive awareness and emotional acceptance of diversity as a positive concept with positive impacts on existence. Diversity Based becomes part of the essence or bedrock of an individual. Diversity Based is an individual understanding, a commitment, a valuing of diversity in a way similar to what is meant when behavior and decisions, or education, are described as values-based. Being diversity-based is more than having diversity awareness of self and others, and knowing how that influences behavior. These are important beginnings. The diversity-based commitment is marrow to the bone and soul.

I am a diversity-based person when the following behaviors and attitudes become internalized:

• my values, my knowledge, and my emotional commitment to how I live my life, are based on seeing diversity as a positive force;
• my behavior is accepting, even when not agreeing with others, I recognize that there are many perspectives on "truth";
• I am inclusive and collaborative in my behavior;
• I am open in sharing my perspectives and in hearing the perspectives of others;
• I recognize and respect the rights and needs of others as important considerations in my decision-making;
• I work at becoming more sensitive and non-judgmental of the uniqueness of others;
• I continually reassess my decisions and values to determine if these decisions and values are accepting of the rights and dignities of others;
• I continually grow in my own self-awareness about the roots of my humanness, the history of my biases, and the self-acceptance needed to accept others;
• individuals give me feedback that they experience me as demonstrating in my behavior the above qualities and attitudes.
• When I get feedback about behavior that does not match, or has an impact different than intended, I listen respectfully to it, seek to understand it and change my behavior as appropriate.

Developed by Bess C. Howard and Alexsandra K. Stewart, 1992

Previous                              Next