Some of these dimensions will be more significant to you than others, and you may know of additional terms. Diversity is an area of life that engages and challenges us daily. We are always meeting people who are different from ourselves, encountering ideas and information that make us question and rethink our prior knowledge, confronting our privilege in relation to others, and facing changes in the world around us. Our culture reflects closely held beliefs and values. We also begin to understand the power of groups and how that power affects the ways a community does or does not support differences.
Affirmative action is certainly a diversity issue but by no means the only one.
In learning about diversity we come to understand that our beliefs and values are not always shared by those around us, and theirs may not only be unfamiliar to us, but uncomfortable as well. Learning about diversity and working toward developing an inclusive perspective does not always feel good. As well as being important and rewarding, it can be challenging and threatening, especially when we learn new pieces of information. Opportunities to be involved in learning about and making a difference with regard to diversity on campus will arise in four different aspects of the educational experience. All groups and individuals within groups benefit from understanding and affirming diversity.