The document discusses the concept of diversity and perception. It defines perception as the process of becoming aware of one's environment through the senses. Perception influences decision making and actions. How people perceive and analyze what they sense depends on factors like past experiences, beliefs, and culture. The document also discusses the concepts of culture, bias, prejudice, stereotypes, and dimensions of diversity like race, gender, age, and others. It notes that in society, some dimensions like being white, male, and straight are more valued than others. The document stresses that understanding diversity involves learning to be inclusive of differences and examining one's own power, privilege, and potential biases.

1. The Many Faces of DiversityThe Many Faces of Diversity
2017 IPRA Webinar2017 IPRA Webinar
Tracey Crawford, CTRS, CPRPTracey Crawford, CTRS, CPRP
Executive DirectorExecutive Director
Northwest Special Recreation AssociationNorthwest Special Recreation Association
3000 West Central Road; Suite 2053000 West Central Road; Suite 205
Rolling Meadows, IL 60008Rolling Meadows, IL 60008
1-847-392-2848 phone/1-847-392-2848 phone/ tcrawford@nwsra.orgtcrawford@nwsra.org

2. Look at the Person in theLook at the Person in the
Picture…Picture…
• How old is he?
• What is his profession?
• Is he a family man?
• What type of music
does he listen to?
• What are his hobbies?
• Is he a white collar
worker or a blue collar
worker?

3. The Definition of PerceptionThe Definition of Perception
• The process of becoming aware of the world
around you through your senses.
• Your senses play a critical role in perception
and behavior. They allow you to perceive
your environment AND to act in response to
it.
• Overabundance of stimulation hitting your
senses in every moment, most will be filtered
out and won’t reach your conscious
awareness.

4. • Perception leads to decision making and action
taking. At the most basic level, the decision is to
act or not to act and this depends on how you
develop motivation.
• The meaning you give to a stimulus you
perceive will fundamentally shape the choices
and actions you take in response to it.

5. Trust is built on first impressionsTrust is built on first impressions
Dr. Dave, a medical doctor with private general medicine practice in NYC

6. What do you think??What do you think??
Please complete each phrase to form a sentence.
Try not to spend a lot of time rationalizing or
thinking, simply complete the items as quickly as
possible.

7. CultureCulture
• Can be described as patterns, beliefs, or
practices that are expressed by or are
expressions of a particular group.
• Each of us belong to a variety of groups.
• Therefore, our personal interactions,
decisions, behaviors, and the like reflect and
are influenced by our culture.
• People may have beliefs, patterns, or
practices that come from various groups to
which they belong.

8. Second Grade Classroom Story
A school teacher posed a simple enough problem toA school teacher posed a simple enough problem to
the class. “There are four blackbirds sitting in a tree.the class. “There are four blackbirds sitting in a tree.
You take a slingshot and shoot one of them. HowYou take a slingshot and shoot one of them. How
many are left?”many are left?”

9. AnalysisAnalysis
• What is filtered in versus filtered out depends on
where you put your attention.
• You begin to analyze and interpret the precieved
objects in order to give them meaning and
context.
• How you analyze what you perceive will be
influenced by many factors including your past
experiences, feelings, imagination, values,
memories, beliefs and your cultural setting.

10. PERSONAL BIAS:PERSONAL BIAS:
A REFLECTION EXERCISEA REFLECTION EXERCISE
• The first time I became aware of
difference was when…
• As I was growing up, my parents taught
me that people who were different from us
were..
• As I was growing up, my parents taught
me that people who were like us were…
• A time I was mistreated because of my
own difference was when…

11. • A time I mistreated someone for being
different was when…
• I feel most comfortable when I am around
people who…
• I feel least comfortable when I am around
people who…
• The memories I have of differences affect
my supervison of others by…

12. Diversity is the mosaic ofDiversity is the mosaic of
people who bring a variety ofpeople who bring a variety of
background, styles,background, styles,
perspectives, values andperspectives, values and
beliefs as assets to the groupsbeliefs as assets to the groups
and organizations with whichand organizations with which
they interact.they interact.
The Advisor Marketing Group’s DefinitionThe Advisor Marketing Group’s Definition

13. Dimensions of DiversityDimensions of Diversity
Race & Ethnicity
Sex & Gender
Physical & Mental Abilities & QualitiesAge
Sexual Orientation
Loden & Rosener, 1990

14. Dimensions ofDimensions of
DiversityDiversityColor/nationality
Biological: male/female
Psychological:
masculine/feminine
IQ
Developmental abilities
Physical attributes
Chronological Age
Heterosexual
Bisexual
Gay/Lesbian
Loden & Rosener, 1990

15. Geography
Occupation
Marital
Status
Military
Status
Income
Parental
Status
Education
Religion
Secondary
Dimensions
Loden & Rosener, 1990

16. Think about the various groupsThink about the various groups
to which you belong.to which you belong.
• What are your perceptions about how
others view you related to these
groups?
• How do you see yourself?
• In what way are these similar or
different?

17. PrejudicePrejudice
• Involves drawing conclusions without
examining the facts or having
predetermined thoughts that lead us to
unfairly passing judgment.
• Assumptions or preconceived ideas
about a person
• Prejudices are learned and can be
unlearned.

18. StereotypeStereotype
• An exaggerated or distorted belief that
attributes characteristics to members
of a particular group, simplistically
lumping them together and refusing to
acknowledge differences among
members of the group.
• This could include a fixed belief or
assumption about people who belong
to a specific group.

19. What primary dimension
is more valued in society?

20. Dimensions of DiversityDimensions of Diversity
Color/nationality
Biological: male/female
Psychological:
masculine/feminine
IQ
Developmental abilities
Physical attributes
Chronological Age
Heterosexual
Bisexual
Gay/Lesbian
Loden & Rosener, 1990

21. Dimensions of DiversityDimensions of Diversity
Color/nationality
Biological: male/female
Psychological:
masculine/feminine
IQ
Developmental abilities
Physical attributes
Chronological Age
Heterosexual
Bisexual
Gay/Lesbian
Loden & Rosener, 1990

22. DimensionsDimensions
Valued by SocietyValued by Society
White
Male/Masculine
Above average IQ/fit/tallBetween 30-45
Straight
Heterosexual
Loden & Rosener, 1990

23. How does diversity affectHow does diversity affect
you at the workplace?you at the workplace?
Understanding diversity means learningUnderstanding diversity means learning
how to become more inclusive andhow to become more inclusive and
welcoming while exploring the ways wewelcoming while exploring the ways we
may inadvertently dismiss, diminish ormay inadvertently dismiss, diminish or
demean others. The next step indemean others. The next step in
understanding diversity in the work placeunderstanding diversity in the work place
is to learn the roles of power, privilegeis to learn the roles of power, privilege
and perception and how they contributeand perception and how they contribute
to how you may interact and respond toto how you may interact and respond to
others.others.

24. What privilegesWhat privileges
do you have?do you have?
Adapted from Mcintosh,P. (July/August 1989). Unpacking the Invisible
Knapsack, Peace and Freedom.

25.  Your ancestors came to the USA, because they
had to or were forced to.
 Your primary ethnic identity is American.
 You were called names because of your race,
class, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation.
 There were people of color who lived in your
neighborhood.
 Your parents were professional, doctors,
lawyers, etc.
 You were discouraged from academics, activities
or jobs because of race, class, ethnicity, or
sexual orientation.

26.  You ever lived near an area where there was
prostitution, drugs, gambling near by.
 You were told that you were attractive, smart,
and capable by your parents.
 You tried to change your appearance, mannerisms,
or behavior to avoid being judged or ridiculed.
 You studied the culture of your ancestors in
elementary school.
 You went to school speaking a language other
than English.
 You speak more than one language.

27.  There were more than 50 books in your house when
you grew up.
 You had to skip a meal or were hungry because
there was not enough money to buy food when you
were growing up.
 You were brought to art galleries, musicals or
plays by your parents.
 Your parents were ever unemployed or laid off.
 You attended summer camps and participated in
away trips growing up.

28. Power & PrivilegePower & Privilege
Institutional Power:
– The ability or official authority to decide what is best for others.
– The ability to decide who will have access to resources.
– The capacity to exercise control over others
Privilege operates on:
– Personal: values, beliefs, feelings
– Interpersonal: actions, behaviors, language
– Institutional: legal system, education system, public policy, hiring
practices, media images
– Societal/Cultural: collective ideas about what is “right.”

29. Privilege isPrivilege is
characteristically…characteristically…
• Invisible to people who have it.
• In dominant groups who often believe that they have
earned the privileges that they enjoy or that everyone
could have access to these privileges if they worked to
earn them.
• Unearned and they are granted to people in the
dominant groups whether they want those privileges or
not, and regardless of their stated intent.
• In dominant groups where people are frequently
unaware that they are members.

30. The Diversity FlowerThe Diversity Flower
POWERPOWER
You have power overYou have power over
others.others.
You have the power toYou have the power to
give power to others…give power to others…
or notor not
PRIVILEGEPRIVILEGE
You have a benefitYou have a benefit
that others do notthat others do not
have.have.
You have it because ofYou have it because of
who you happen to be.who you happen to be.

31. The Diversity FlowerThe Diversity Flower
EXERCISEEXERCISE
1. Look at the word on each petal
2. Decide whether the word on the petal works for or
against you. Does it allow you MORE Power and
Privilege with others or LESS?
3. Prepare to draw a dot on each petal:
– Close to the center if it works in your favor
– Far away from the center if it works
against you
– Near the middle if it is neither MORE nor
LESS
1. Draw a line connecting your dots

33. • How much power and privilege DO you
have?
• What does this mean for you? As a
person? As a professional?
• Are there dimensions where you are
marginalized?
• What does this mean for you? As a
person? As a professional?

34. One day our descendants will think itOne day our descendants will think it
incredible that we paid so much attention toincredible that we paid so much attention to
things like the amount of melanin in our skinthings like the amount of melanin in our skin
or the shape of our eyes or our genderor the shape of our eyes or our gender
instead of the unique identities of each of usinstead of the unique identities of each of us
as complex human beings.as complex human beings.
Franklin ThomasFranklin Thomas

35. MAKE A COMMITMENT TO
SUPPORTING DIVERSITY

36. I...
• ...am a role model of valuing diversity in
others
• …can communicate the value of diversity to
others
• …acknowledge that people of different
backgrounds can take different but equally
effective approaches to life, and I can avoid
stereotyping because of those differences.

37. I...
• ...recognize and correct biased or
inappropriate words, humor, gestures, and
behaviors in others.
• …take the biases of my own background
into account.
• …give honest feedback regarding
performance in a manner appropriate for
each individual.