Return to Interpersonal Inventory
Work with Cultural Diversity
Developed by Janice Wilson
Complete the following activity.
1 Go to the following website and read on-line or print out and read the document entitled, "Managing Diversity: Tips for Women & Men Working Together." www.jalmc.org/tips4m&w.htm also view: http://members.ozemail.com.au/~tarim/men/miscwork.htm
2. Become a volunteer in an area of need in which the participants are predominately of the opposite sex. Make a note of incidents in which you find the points to be true about members of the opposite sex.
3. After the volunteer experience is completed (minimum of two weeks), review your notes and the information from the website to determine which of the five (5) attributes of the opposite sex you observed to be accurate. In a one-page essay, write about the specific attribute/s and the incident/s. Provide details about the experience, evaluating whether the tips were helpful and what you learned that will specifically help you in the future in dealing with members of the opposite sex, especially in the workplace.
Complete three of the eight activities.
1a. Complete the activity entitled "Recognizing Your Co-Workers’ Strengths" [Quick Skills: Teamwork; South-Western Educational Publishing Thomson Learning; www.swep.com/highschool/index.html ] List the strengths of your co-workers who are, in your opinion, strong in the following areas: word smart, math smart, music smart, picture smart, body smart, people smart, self smart, nature smart.
1b. In a group situation, select one of the persons from your list who is of another culture (race, sex, educational level, economic background, etc.) and who you don’t know well. Speak (anonymously by the "label" only) about ways you relate to this person in the workplace and how you might communicate better with this person.
2. To determine which of your intelligences are strongest, print and complete the Multiple Intelligences Survey at: www.surfaquarium.com/Miinvent.htm Be sure to graph and share your results.
3. Participate and provide documentation of volunteering. Note: The volunteer experience must be one in which you work with others who are of a different ethnic, social, or educational background.4. Complete the worksheet entitled, "Spotlight on Workplace Culture." [Quick Skills: Embracing Diversity; South-Western Educational Publishing Thomson Learning] www.swep.com/highschool/index.html
In a group session, pick at least one of your answers to share in a constructive dialogue with your co-workers.
5. Complete the worksheet entitled, Making it Personal." [Quick Skills: Embracing Diversity; South-Western Educational Publishing Thomson Learning] www.swep.com/highschool/index.html Share your answers.
6.Go to the following website to learn how to identify and remedy workplace discrimination www.eeoc.gov/facts/qanda.html Read sections "Federal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Laws," sections I – III only. Take a test on EEO Discrimination Laws.
7. Test your knowledge of different cultures by visiting the website "Getting Through Customs"Each person in the group must pick any five (5) links and share the most interesting facts about different cultures.
Review the following website entitled, "Diversity Activities for Youth and Adults." Pick one individual and one group activity and record your finding.Read the instructions and complete the activity, "Whom to Leave Behind." Share your results and rationale with the group. Do you see any patterns that might point to stereotyping?
As a group, talk about the following destructive
8. Display courtesy and/or random act of kindness to a variety of people with diverse ethnic, social or educational backgrounds"isms" and related terms. Are there evidences of any of these "isms" that you perceive in your workplace: racism, sexism, ageism , classism, ethnic prejudice, (prejudice based on ethnicity) appearance prejudice (based on weight, attractiveness, etc.) Share you thoughts about how these "isms" can be dealt with and/or eliminated from the workplace.
Make a commitment to display at least 10 courteous acts of kindness to a diversity of cultures for a 72- hour period. Log your acts or kindness and record the recipient’s reactions. Analyze your own reactions and demeanor at the end of each day. For suggestions of random acts of kindness, see the following website: www.actsofkindness.org