Mojotronica
Expect Irony.
Most or all major corporations in the US are requiring diversity training to minimize their exposure to litigation.
Also to promote an atmosphere of harmonious co-existence between employees and to leverage synergies that diverse backgrounds and experiences can bring to the company.
Diversity training might also be called diversity appreciation training, intercultural communications or sensitivity training. Specifically it addresses issues of sexual harassment, sensitivity to race, gender and sexual orientation and encourages use of bias-free language.
Implementation of bias-free language is the original purpose of and primary purpose of the so-called "Politically Correct" movement. The phrase "Politically Correct" has acquired much negative baggage -- bias-free language is the more accurate description of the thinking behind it. (Perhaps "Political Correctness" has always been a negative statement -- I seem to remember a time when it, like "Downsizing" or "Liberal" -- was used positively...)
Which is a) call people what they want to be called and b) eliminate gender-bias and prejudice-laden words from general usage.
The military may have similar programs in place. From a racial standpoint (if not necessarily gender and definitely not sexual orientation) the US military is the most integrated and diverse major organization in the United States. It would stand to reason that some of the training in the military would include classes in getting along and breaking down potential communication barriers.
Also many Universities and Colleges have instituted mandatory classes in the subject. Perhaps this has even been introduced into high school curriculum.
Diversity training, in theory, is practical in avoiding misunderstandings based on lack of communication skills.
For example, a poster earlier today (20-March-03) posted a thread that was offensive to many folks in the OT Forum, yet seemed oblivious to the offense he or she may have caused... until he or she was corrected by a Mod.
What do you think of it? Is diversity training a good idea?
Does it instill a sense of cynicism in you that corporations require it mostly to avoid getting sued? I have a friend who complains about it -- he says, "Yeah. (A major corporation) has something to teach ME about diversity... Right."
If you are in high school, have you been required to take a class or two on this subject?
How about military personnel?
Many people are very vocally opposed to "political correctness" or "bias-free language." If you support the idea of training to facilitate communication without offense BUT are opposed to the idea of "political correctness" or "bias-free language," how is such training different from "political correctness" or "bias-free language." Is this merely a debate in semantics?
Perhaps we need a new word or words to describe the training...
EDIT: fixed a couple formatting problems...
Also to promote an atmosphere of harmonious co-existence between employees and to leverage synergies that diverse backgrounds and experiences can bring to the company.
Diversity training might also be called diversity appreciation training, intercultural communications or sensitivity training. Specifically it addresses issues of sexual harassment, sensitivity to race, gender and sexual orientation and encourages use of bias-free language.
Implementation of bias-free language is the original purpose of and primary purpose of the so-called "Politically Correct" movement. The phrase "Politically Correct" has acquired much negative baggage -- bias-free language is the more accurate description of the thinking behind it. (Perhaps "Political Correctness" has always been a negative statement -- I seem to remember a time when it, like "Downsizing" or "Liberal" -- was used positively...)
Which is a) call people what they want to be called and b) eliminate gender-bias and prejudice-laden words from general usage.
The military may have similar programs in place. From a racial standpoint (if not necessarily gender and definitely not sexual orientation) the US military is the most integrated and diverse major organization in the United States. It would stand to reason that some of the training in the military would include classes in getting along and breaking down potential communication barriers.
Also many Universities and Colleges have instituted mandatory classes in the subject. Perhaps this has even been introduced into high school curriculum.
Diversity training, in theory, is practical in avoiding misunderstandings based on lack of communication skills.
For example, a poster earlier today (20-March-03) posted a thread that was offensive to many folks in the OT Forum, yet seemed oblivious to the offense he or she may have caused... until he or she was corrected by a Mod.
What do you think of it? Is diversity training a good idea?
Does it instill a sense of cynicism in you that corporations require it mostly to avoid getting sued? I have a friend who complains about it -- he says, "Yeah. (A major corporation) has something to teach ME about diversity... Right."
If you are in high school, have you been required to take a class or two on this subject?
How about military personnel?
Many people are very vocally opposed to "political correctness" or "bias-free language." If you support the idea of training to facilitate communication without offense BUT are opposed to the idea of "political correctness" or "bias-free language," how is such training different from "political correctness" or "bias-free language." Is this merely a debate in semantics?
Perhaps we need a new word or words to describe the training...
EDIT: fixed a couple formatting problems...
. Some tell me this makes government more efficient 
