  Family & Society - Cultural Diversity - By Mara Hurwitt |
"Each time a person stands up for an idea, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripple build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppressions and resistance." Teach Your Children WellOne of the most important weapons against intolerance and bigotry is our opportunity to raise future generations to celebrate both our differences and our similarities.Research shows that children acquire prejudices at an early age, but that they can also be taught to appreciate and respect diversity. From birth to the age of 3, a child's world is dominated by his own emotions and needs. Children may express prejudice at this early age, but it appears to stem from a bias against things that are unfamiliar. By age 2, children begin to recognize and explore differences. At about 2 years of age, they become increasingly aware of gender, and this is soon followed by the ability to distinguish race, ethnicity, and physical disabilities. They exhibit a natural curiosity about skin color, hair color and texture, eye shape and color, and other physical characteristics. Toddlers are sensitive to the feelings of the adults around them, and they begin to mimic adult behavior. Between 2 and 5 years they begin to adopt both the positive and negative attitudes of other family members towards differences in race and cultural identity. Children as young as 2 may exhibit signs of pre-prejudice, acting uncomfortable in the presence of, or even avoiding, a child they perceive as different from themselves. By exposing young children to people of diverse cultures and backgrounds, parents can minimize this tendency to reject things or people that seem strange or different. During the preschool years, ages 3 to 4, children notice differences among people more readily and seek explanations for them. Many children will comment on the physical characteristics of others. They may wonder why two people with different skin tones are considered part of the same racial group and said to have the same skin color, or ask how people got their skin color, hair texture, and eye shape. At this age, children believe that skin color and other physical traits are not necessarily permanent and can change with time. Their thinking is still limited and inconsistent, making it easy for them to believe stereotypes and form pre-prejudices. It is important to create an environment for preschoolers that provides many opportunities to explore diversity. This will encourage children to initiate discussions about differences among people and help them develop ideas about themselves and others rather than accepting stereotypes. From age 4 to 6, children begin to embrace groups like their family and school class, shifting their focus from me to us. They begin to establish a group ethnic identity and may express negative attitudes towards people who are visibly different from them. If children make comments about someone's racial or ethnic group, parents should deal with these comments calmly and positively, emphasizing that differences are a good thing. By kindergarten, ages 5 to 6, children begin to understand simple scientific explanations for differences in skin color, hair texture, and eye shape. They can better distinguish both differences and similarities within and between racial and ethnic groups. At this age, children are developing social skills and becoming more group oriented. They enjoy exploring the different cultures of their friends. At 6 to 8 years of age, children begin to realize that ethnicity and physical attributes are not changeable and that their own skin color will not wash off or change. They develop an awareness of historical actions and attitudes for and against different racial, religious, and cultural groups and are particularly cognizant of biases against their own group. They may also begin to develop a sense of pride in their own cultural identity. Children of this age are able to empathize and are interested in learning about the world. They also understand the concept of fair and unfair. However, they are easily swayed by what they see around them, and the influence of key adults, peers, and the media on their own attitudes increases. This is an ideal time to give children accurate information about cultural diversity as they develop more sophisticated ways of thinking. Children 9 to 12 years of age gain a greater understanding of the geographic and historical aspects of culture. They become more sensitive to the attitudes and behaviors of authority figures and people in positions of power. Researchers have found that most 9 to 12 year olds can understand racial and cultural stereotypes but can also learn to identify the positive aspects of various cultures. At this age, children should be ready to talk about valuing diversity, especially if parents have exposed them to a variety of people and cultures. Embracing Diversity >> |
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