The importance of cultural diversity in one's life - Essay Example

Through improved communication and a broader sense of understanding, culturally diverse communities can achieve success that is unparalleled in homogenous populations. The wide influx of ideas and practices in a culturally mixed group enriches a community and allows for greater intellectual, economic, and spiritual growth within the population. Cultural diversity is becoming ever more important in an increasingly global society and also has an accepted facet in day to day life. Cultural diversity spears economic growth and can help in the reduction of world poverty (UNESCO).

Distinct cultures are capable of interacting in an economically advanced manner that will help not just the motherland, but other countries in need as well. Besides economical benefits, cultural diversity also enriches the human soul. Through the exchange of cultural ideas, individuals experience intellectual, emotional, moral, and spiritual growth (UNESCO). For example, millions of people worldwide now practice yoga as a form of exercise and spiritual relaxation. This would not be possible without the exchange of ideas between cultures.

All cultures can stand to gain valuable insight into economic and emotional health by exchanging ideas. Multiculturalism within a community encompasses many distinct groups and interests. Race, gender, class, and sexual orientation are some of the categories that help decide the relationships between different cultural groups (Rendon). The key to success in environments with extensive multiculturalism is acceptance and tolerance. This is in opposition to monoculturism in which the group of people is homogenous or not mixed as in multiculturalism.

A culture that is completely homogenous may view cultural diversity as a threat to social life, education, or financial well being (Rendon). However, homogenous groups of people are becoming more rare as the world continues to grow. Most college campuses are mixed gender, as well as mixed race, mixed socio-economic status and mixed gender orientation. For this reason, it is important to establish acceptance and communication within multicultural campuses. Diversity is nothing something that should be viewed as a threat, but something that should be embraced as a positive force.

As communications, transportation, and biotechnology continue to improve, the world will continue to move towards a global culture instead of distinct cultural areas. It is important to recognize a degree of cultural unity in order to give validity to laws passed by international bodies, such as the United Nations (Ayton-Shenker). International law is designed as rules for the global community and does not establish differences between particular countries. As diverse as the world is, these unifying bodies provide a sense of group belonging to the global community (Ayton-Shenker).

In this sense, cultures that are as different as China to Brazil to the United States are all held to the same standards under international law. The knowledge that can be attained by accepting other cultures is perhaps the most important aspect of cultural diversity. Rudolph J. Marcus accounts for this wealth of information in his article, "Harvesting the advantages of cultural diversity." He states, "working together across paradigms can be fruitful. Some behaviors and practices on both sides help this process,