Diversity and Multiculturalism in Human Resource Management
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This article defines the difference between diversity and multiculturalism. In today's workplace, the terms are used interchangeably; thus, as we progress in this section, we will use the term diversity to include people from different cultures. We will use inclusiveness to mean including people and understanding and respecting them. Diversity is a concept that focuses on differences, and we can look at power and privilege as the base for those differences. Inclusiveness has become a heated topic in the United States; thus, we must be aware of workplace issues.
Key Takeaways
- Diversity is the real or perceived differences between individuals. This can include race, gender, sexual orientation, size, cultural background, and much more.
- Multiculturalism is a term that is similar to diversity, but it focuses on development of a greater understanding of how power in society can be unequal due to race, gender, sexual orientation, power, and privilege.
- Power and privilege is a system of advantages based on one's race, gender, and sexual orientation. This system can often be invisible (to those who have it), which results in one race or gender having unequal power in the workplace. Of course, this unequal power results in unfairness, which may be of legal concern.
- Diversity is important to the success of organizations. Many studies have shown a direct link between the amount of diversity in a workplace and the company's success.