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Diversity

Diversity = all aspects in which people differ

What is Diversity?

We define diversity as ‘all aspects in which people differ'. This is a very broad definition, that is not shared by all experts in the field. Some focus on only a few aspects of diversity, usually gender, age and ethnic or national background. We choose the broad definition since we believe that a person is more than just this, all other aspects are part of them as well. We can not fully understand people and their behaviour without taking all these aspects into account.

Dimensions of Diversity

Often, the different aspects of diversity are divided into primary and secondary dimensions. The primary dimensions are basic and can not be changed by the person. Secondary dimensions can be influenced more easily.

Fig. 1: Primary and secondary dimensions of diversity (After Kreitner, R. en Kinicki, A. (1995) Organizational Behaviour, Chicago: R.D. Irwin Inc.)

Aspects of diversity are not only grouped into primary and secondary dimensions. Another dimension to group them is their visibility. The more visible an aspect is, the stronger its influence on how others see you. It is hard to escape from highly visible aspects of diversity. One can put on a ring and pretend to be married, but pretending to be white when your skin is black is much harder.

Effects of Diversity

Both primary and secondary dimensions, visible and non-visible aspects, are part of the personal identity of a person. They have a strong influence on our values, needs, priorities, aspirations and perceptions. They influence how we see our environment and how we behave. They also have a strong influence on how others see us, and this, in turn, influences how we see ourselves. This process of stereotyping and what it results in discussed more in-depth in the Themes Section.