"This superficial, flawed view of diversity (or pseudo-diversity) inevitably leads to and encourages tokenism while also prescribing a narrative for the ideal or model minority.
Our current view of diversity relies on and is mainly measured through external character traits, such as race, ethnicity, and gender. These traits are visible and merely create a visual diversity.
As you can imagine, the acceptance of pseudo-diversity as a norm within public discourse has significant implications on minorities.
Photo credit to Unsplash
Minorities are also often asked questions that assess their level of religious and cultural differences: "I know you're practicing, but you're not, like, that religious, right?" Or minorities are complimented, with comments such as, "She's faithful but doesn't wear her religion on her sleeve." These questions and comments enforce the boundary that defines an acceptable versus an unacceptable difference within the mainstream view of diversity.
It dictates that success, prosperity and the shattering of the glass ceiling is attainable, conditional upon your ability to assimilate with the majority and signal it. I refuse to believe that acceptance of minorities within society based upon their similarities can ever be true diversity.
It's imperative for minorities to realize that if they continue this assimilation exercise, over time it will strip them of their true diverse identity.
Minorities will avoid practicing or passing down cultural traditions or religious practices because those practices and traditions might require accommodation; they might make others feel uncomfortable."
Our appreciation to Narjis Karani and CBC for the insight and photo.
I remember as a California teenager becoming friends with an Iranian teen. He wanted to change his name from Hamid Minikaran to Bill Smith because he wanted to fit in more effectively.
At my encouragement, he didn't and learned to appreciate the differences by hangin' with like-minded teens.
