Attitudes Towards Diversity

In one of the articles I found it talked about Diversity and Learning Outcomes. One of the sections in the article really focused on the three main attitudes that students have about diversity and inequality. These characteristics or attitudes are raised when controversial material is being discussed. In this article, Nancy Davis (1992) identifies resistance, paralysis and rage as the three common types of reaction towards diversity.

Students who fall under the paralysis heading often see these hierarchical systems as fact, or as concrete ideas. They have this attitude of acceptance and the thought that "this is just the way it is". Alternatively students under the enraged heading are often in situations that classify them as disadvantaged. They direct their anger at students who they perceive are more advantaged then they are. This is a situation that is very recognizable. To be blunt, if you are a poor kid from the city, you are going to have some anger directed towards the rich kids of the suburbs who's parents give them whatever they want. This is something that can be translated into the adult world as well. If we are disadvantaged in any way, whether in academic, social or job situations, we have some tension towards the people who are more advantaged then we are.

The last classification is the resisting attitude. Students under this heading either deny the importance of inequality or blame individuals for the inequality. Many of these students have been misinformed by the media, or by other means of communication. It always seems to be anyone's fault but their own. Young students may have not made the decisions that have brought them to the unfair situations they live in now, but they also continue to make the decisions and stereotypes that keep them in the same place.

These classifications definitely helped me figure out the more psychological aspect of what students might be thinking towards diversity. I found it really interesting and I have identified with all three of these classifications in my own experiences with friends, and even myself. The important thing is to be aware of these classifications and if possible try to break them down in our own classrooms one day.