Diversity and Diversity and DiscriminationDiscrimination

Vocabulary, Facts, and Vocabulary, Facts, and InformationInformation

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DiversityDiversity

Diverse means being composed of distinct or different elements or qualities

People are diverse in many ways:• Race/Ethnicity• Social/Economic Status• Age• Religion• Gender• Ability

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DiversityDiversity

Diversity is all around us• At school• At work• Everywhere you go

It is best to treat people who are different than you with tolerance• Tolerance is treating everyone fairly and

equally

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Diversity—FYIDiversity—FYI

If you could shrink the earth’s population to a village of If you could shrink the earth’s population to a village of precisely 100 females & males-but maintain the existing precisely 100 females & males-but maintain the existing demographic ratios-the group would look like this:demographic ratios-the group would look like this:

57 Asians57 Asians 14 Western Hemisphere 14 Western Hemisphere dwellers (North & South dwellers (North & South America)America)

8 Africans8 Africans 70 nonwhites70 nonwhites

30 Whites30 Whites 70 non-Christians70 non-Christians

30 Christians30 Christians 70 unable to read70 unable to read

50 malnourished50 malnourished 80 living in substandard 80 living in substandard housinghousing

1 college graduate1 college graduate 50% of world’s wealth in hands 50% of world’s wealth in hands of 6 people—all in the U. S.of 6 people—all in the U. S.

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DiscriminationDiscrimination

DiscriminationDiscrimination is is acting towardacting toward or or treatingtreating individuals or groups in a individuals or groups in a different manner because they are different manner because they are differentdifferent

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DiscriminationDiscrimination

What often leads to Discrimination?What often leads to Discrimination?• StereotypesStereotypes—an idea or statement —an idea or statement

about all of the members of a groupabout all of the members of a group• PrejudicesPrejudices—a negative attitude toward a —a negative attitude toward a

group of peoplegroup of people• RacismRacism—the belief that members of one —the belief that members of one

race or ethnic group are superior to race or ethnic group are superior to members of other races or ethnic group members of other races or ethnic group

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The LawThe Law

The United States has enacted The United States has enacted several laws that make it unlawful several laws that make it unlawful for employers to discriminate for employers to discriminate against employees, applicants, and against employees, applicants, and clients.clients.

• Civil Rights Act of 1964Civil Rights Act of 1964• Age Discrimination Act of 1967Age Discrimination Act of 1967• Americans with Disabilities ActAmericans with Disabilities Act

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The LawThe Law

Because of these laws, employers must Because of these laws, employers must base decisions (such as hiring, firing, job base decisions (such as hiring, firing, job assignment, etc) solely on an employee’s assignment, etc) solely on an employee’s ability to do the job.ability to do the job.

Employers must make accommodations Employers must make accommodations (changes) for employees/customers with (changes) for employees/customers with disabilitiesdisabilities

Employers who discriminate are subject to Employers who discriminate are subject to fines and lawsuitsfines and lawsuits

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Equal Opportunity EmployerEqual Opportunity Employer

An employer who agrees not to An employer who agrees not to discriminate against any employee or discriminate against any employee or job applicant job applicant

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Common Types of DiscriminationCommon Types of Discrimination

Age DiscriminationAge Discrimination Racial/Ethnic DiscriminationRacial/Ethnic Discrimination Sex/Gender DiscriminationSex/Gender Discrimination Religious DiscriminationReligious Discrimination Discrimination due to a DisabilityDiscrimination due to a Disability

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Age DiscriminationAge Discrimination

Employers may not discriminate Employers may not discriminate based on a person’s age based on a person’s age

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Racial/Ethnic DiscriminationRacial/Ethnic Discrimination

Discrimination based on a person’s Discrimination based on a person’s ethnicity or raceethnicity or race• EthnicityEthnicity means belonging to groups of means belonging to groups of

people according to common racial, people according to common racial, national, tribal, religious, linguistic, or national, tribal, religious, linguistic, or cultural origin or backgroundcultural origin or background

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Sex/Gender DiscriminationSex/Gender Discrimination

Discrimination based upon a person’s Discrimination based upon a person’s gendergender

Non-traditional occupationsNon-traditional occupations• Any occupation in which women or men Any occupation in which women or men

comprise less then 25% of the workforce comprise less then 25% of the workforce

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Religious DiscriminationReligious Discrimination

Employers may not discriminate Employers may not discriminate based upon a person’s religionbased upon a person’s religion

Employers may need to make Employers may need to make accommodations based upon accommodations based upon religious differencesreligious differences

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Disability DiscriminationDisability Discrimination

Discrimination based on the fact that a Discrimination based on the fact that a person has a disabilityperson has a disability• A A disabilitydisability is a long-lasting impairment that is a long-lasting impairment that

limits a major life activitylimits a major life activity• Can include mental or physicalCan include mental or physical

To accommodate disabled employees, To accommodate disabled employees, employers may have to:employers may have to:• Restructure jobsRestructure jobs• Alter equipmentAlter equipment• Modify workstationsModify workstations