VA2 Ch 4 - Diversity Flashcards
Define diversity.
Diversity is the fact or quality of being diverse: difference. Unlike in kind: distinct, varied; a point of respect in which things differ; variety.
Define the primary dimensions of diversity.
Primary dimensions are differences that are inborn and/or exert an important impact on early socialization and an ongoing impact throughout people’s lives.
List 3 (three) examples of the primary dimensions.
Primary - Age, language, ethnicity, cultural background, disability, and sexual orientation are just a few of the many “primary dimensions.”
Define the secondary dimensions of diversity.
Secondary dimensions are differences that you acquire, discard, and/or modify throughout your life.
List 3 (three) examples of the secondary dimensions.
Secondary - People will differ in other respects such as educational level, job function, socio-economic status, personality profile, marital status, family responsibilities, religious beliefs, and geographic location; these are considered “secondary dimensions.”
Being _______________ _______________ requires all Airmen to develop keen awareness and understanding of others’ emotions, feelings, personality, temperaments, strengths, cultural differences, values, and beliefs.
socially sensitive
List 3 (three) ways Socio-Behavioral Tendencies effect the workplace.
- Poor communication and little or no teamwork
- Animosity toward one another
- Poor morale and lack of discipline
- Minimal use of creativity and experience and reduced productivity
- Discrimination
Identify the 5 (five) characteristics of a diversity supportive environment where individuals work cohesively in your workplace. List each characteristic and give an example of how each one supports a diverse organization.
- Act Proactively- Integrate diversity into everyday thinking
- Leadership Driven- Endorses and actively champions diversity initiatives
- Encourage Ownership of Initiatives- Individuals value diversity and are committed to making it work
- Think Inclusively- Everyone is a valued member of the organization
- Mainstream Diversity- Diversity is a part of every effort
Give an example of 4 (four) Socio-Behavioral Tendencies and explain their meaning.
- Assumptions- Assuming is when you take the liberty of claiming something about a situation, item, or someone else that is not supported by fact. For instance, when you arrive at a new assignment, you assume that certain things will remain the same as your last base.
- Stereotypes- A fixed or distorted generalization about all members of a particular group. These images are often fueled by mass media reputations passed on by parents, peers, and other members of society. Stereotyping is a way you simplify the social world, reducing the efforts needed to think about the people you encounter.
- Prejudices- An adverse or unreasonable opinion about a person or group without all the facts and usually based on deeply held beliefs. Most prejudices are developed early in life, influenced by acquaintances or attachments to specific groups (such as family) during childhood.
- Social Biases- An inclination [predisposition] of temperament or outlook, a personal and sometimes unreasoned judgment. Being socially biased is where one unfairly favors or prefers a person, culture, group, or race to another. This is usually the effects of your upbringing, values, pre-existing beliefs, and interests. This makes it impossible for you to be impartial.
- Perceptions- The reception and deception of your conception. What you observe and experience becomes your reality until you are convinced or proven otherwise. Your assumptions, prejudices, and social biases contribute to your perceptions and shape how you think and feel. This can present a life-long effect on your life.
- Perspectives- Your take based on your position on particular subjects, issues, and matters that relate to you. It is how you mentally view or “see” a situation or the world around you from a particular angle. Otherwise regarded as opinions and personal beliefs, your perspective can affect how you live, interact, and react to others.
- Collusion- If you cooperate with others, knowingly or unknowingly, to reinforce those behaviors that prevent others from fully entering into the workplace culture. It can take the form of silence (neither supporting nor defending the right to inclusion of a certain person or group), denial (ignoring the existence of problems), or active participation (assisting others to reinforce exclusion).
- Discrimination- is the treatment or consideration of making a distinction in favor of or against a person or thing based on the group, class, or category to which that person or thing belongs rather than on individual merit.
Explain the FAIR Way strategy. List the explanation for each strategy under the correct letter.
F - Feedback is giving and receiving information about expectations as well as how to meet those expectations.
A - Assistance is making sure workers have what they need to work to their fullest potential.
I - Inclusion is making sure everyone has the opportunity to fully participate in the Workplace.
R - Respect is recognizing each person’s unique value, contributions, and potential to the organization.
List 3 (three) examples that describe why it is important to understand and employ the FAIR Way strategy.
- It provides NCOs with a consistent approach to deal effectively with diversity.
- It helps maximize retention and productivity.
- It helps maintain effective working relationships in work places.
As a leader, understanding ____________________________ will help to maximize individual/unit performance and allow your Airmen to reach their highest potential.
diversity
When people have a difference, unlike in kind.
What is ______________________________________________?
Diversity
The thought process we use to make sense of the world and what defines us.
What are ___________________ __________________ _______________________?
Socio-Behavioral Tendencies (SBTs)
TSgt Wyatt’s team is extremely competent and works well together. He considers all of the friendly teasing and joke-telling signs of a healthy team. This morning, two team members approach him and explain how uncomfortable they are with most of the jokes. Wyatt responds, “If I take action now, it might disrupt our deployment preparations and interfere with our teamwork. Do you two want that?” Both Airmen say, “No sir!” Wyatt says, “Good. Just ignore the humor for now, and I’ll deal with it as soon as we return.
TSgt Wyatt’s _______________ will MOST LIKELY _______________.
a. failure to apply the FAIR Way; have a negative impact on mission effectiveness
b. diversity awareness; have a positive impact on his effectiveness
c. social sensitivity; have a negative impact on mission effectiveness
A IS THE CORRECT ANSWER
REASON: According to the Diversity chapter, FAIR Way employs four techniques for maximizing retention and productivity and maintaining effective working relationship in workplaces. Telling crude jokes that attack the cultural background of anyone is unacceptable. TSgt Wyatt needs to reinforce the Air Force Zero Tolerance policy when it comes to diversity with some team members. Acting as a force for the acceptance of diversity and addressing the perceived diversity issues as quickly as possible should help the team continue to work well together.
