Explain and discuss diversity using the practice orientation model for conceptualizing, organizing, and analyzing cultural processes. Include in your discussion the concepts relevant to the practice orientation: race, ethnicity, social class, gender, and family. Explain why it is important to our practice to understand these concepts when working with diversity.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Practice orientation seeks to explain what people do as thinking, intentionally acting persons who face the impact of history and the constraints of structures that are embedded in society and culture. It asks how social systems shape, guide, and direct people's values, beliefs, and behavior. But it also asks how people, as human actors or agents, perpetuate or change the cultures of social systems. As a result, diversity is seen as a dynamic force that has the power to change cultural norms and practices, sometimes drastically. Different races and ethnicities have different norms and values at times, and that may have an impact on the hegemonic view of what is normal and acceptable, or people may resist those changes and see diverse groups as interlopers. As a result, outsiders may struggle to rise through social classes due to prejudice and discrimination. Gender roles may also seek, for example, to keep women subjugated to men. Family roles, like in Rubina's case, may be expected to be different in some cultures, and when one's culture doesn't match the dominant culture, that can cause individual and family tension.