SOCS350 Final Exam Due by Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at midnight

Mr. Morris

Please answer the following questions below. You can either e-mail the document back to me, or submit the document in the dropbox:

Each question is worth 26 points and should be at least 1-2 paragraphs.

1. What is diversity? What does it mean to you? To society?

Diversity is defined as real or perceived differences among people that affect their interactions and relationships, in particular, real or perceived differences among people in race, ethnicity, sex, religion, age, physical and mental ability, sexual orientation, work and family status, and weight and appearance. The best example for diversity is the United States. It is a country of variety culture and race, as it is called the melting pot. I consider diversity as having or being composed of different types of people. Apart of these definitions diversity also have wonderful meanings of acceptance and respect in it. It is an understanding that each individual is unique and recognizing our individual difference. This can anything like race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, status, age, believes e.t.c Therefore, diversity also has meaning of understanding each other and moving above and beyond to respect and love one another equally. Diversity can help a nation to understand that each individual is unique and recognizing our individual difference. Therefore, diversity in society teaches us to accept differences in others and look beyond the base emotions of language, culture, race and color that make us racists or

sexists, for example. It teaches us to be more open and accepting of things that are different from us and in that process makes us more adjustable and open.

The United States of America was built by a diverse group of people. The strength, resilience, and richness of the United States of America are based on the diversity of its citizens. Everyone is equal in worth, and is entitled to the same privileges and opportunities regardless of their age, national origin, disability, gender, or race. Each of us has our own unique background and talents. If America has no diversities, it will be just an ordinary country like many others. Being versatile and diverse is what makes us unique and strong. Therefore, it is important to society. Personally, cultural competence and diversity is important. Leading positive attitude, understanding each others culture and respecting them, their practices, skills and communicating in an efficient manner are the skill necessary for accepting diversity. It is very important because America is a melting pot. People from all over the globe are visible here. Therefore coping to cultural competence is necessary.

2. What is the relationship between compliance with legislative acts and valuing diversity? Explain.

Laws are still necessary to help reduce discrimination and increase opportunities for nondominant group members, but that they are not sufficient to ensure valuing diversity. Without the laws, many of the advances of women, minorities, people with disabilities, and other nondominant group members would not have been attained. Without the laws, progress would probably be even slower.

The relationship between compliance with legislative acts and valuing diversity is that organizations have to reach out all parts of employment and customer markets, maximum productivity, values and potential. It is done by going beyond the matter of compliance by valuing and mannering the diversity. This it is a formula of going above and beyond. Thus, enabling the company to develop the opportunities that this can offer. It is also a companys key responsibility, how they are doing, where they need to focus to ensure that they are in compliance. In order to value diversity, a diverse customer service, employment opportunities should be provided. Thus, guarantees a relationship between legislative acts and diversity in an organization.

3. What can White men, who are most likely to be managers and executives in organizations, do to foster diversity in organizations? Why would they want to do so?

A while men in organization can encourage employees to express their ideas and opinions and attributes a sense of equal value to all to foster diversity in organizations. Employees who find companies which foster diversity are more likely to remain in those organizations than in companies which do not recognize the importance that diversity plays in the work place. Similarly, as word spreads that a particular organization has a strong diversity program, it is likely to find it easier to attract and retain high quality workers. Bringing together employees with various perspectives has other benefits as well, such as enhanced creativity and better business solutions. Employers are recognizing the need to create workplaces that are welcoming and inclusive. Such

environments attract the broadest range of applicants so companies can hire the most talented employees. These are some of the positive way in the organization can benefit.

4. Discuss the diversity among Cubans, Puerto Ricans, and Mexicans in the United States. How does this diversity affect their organizational experiences?

The U.S. Census Bureau today released a 2010 Census brief on the nation's Hispanic population, which shows the Hispanic population increased by 15.2 million between 2000 and 2010 and accounted for more than half of the total U.S. population increase of 27.3 million. About three-quarters of Hispanics in the United States reported as Mexican, Puerto Rican or Cuban origin in the 2010 Census. Mexican origin was the largest group, representing 63 percent of the total U.S. Hispanic population. Puerto Ricans, the second largest group, comprised 9 percent of the Hispanic population in 2010. Cubans made up approximately 4 percent of the total Hispanic population. Today's Mexican Americans are a product of historical development that began more than four centuries ago, when Spain conquered Mexico and made it a colony. Before that the territory was inhabited exclusively by Indians. The Mexican Americans are, therefore, the second oldest component of American society. Residents of Puerto Rico are not a single ethnic group. They, like other Hispanics, have inherited a mixture of cultures. Miami has the oldest and largest concentration of Cubans from the more recent waves of immigration. Florida is a natural destination for Cubans from their homeland and having a similar climate. Facing the choice of new product-markets, a firm might decide to introduce a related product, which leverages existing firm knowledge and capabilities, or to experiment with a less related product,

which requires new knowledge and capabilities. Learning and evolutionary theory suggests firms tend to diversify into related knowledge areas.

Many organizations are now taken place to protect Hispanic leadership such as Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting, Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement, Latinos in Higher Education, Latino Medical Student Association, National Association of Hispanic Journalists, National Hispanic Business Association, National Latino/a Law Student Association, National Society for Hispanic Professionals, Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, Inc. This indeed reveals us that variety of job categories are covered through this organization. The purpose of these organizations is to seek full representation of Latinos at all levels. They ensure Hispanics receive consideration and are selected for training, career enhancing details and assignments. Other organizations are League of United Latin American Citizens, National Image, White House Initiative Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans, National Association of Hispanic Federal Executives Inc, Hispanic Employment Program Managers Webpage, Hispanic Association of Colleges & Universities, American GI Forum.

5. What is the relationship between poverty and discrimination? According to the text, what are the characteristics of people living in poverty?

A lack of food security was the dominant characteristic of poor men. Poor households never have enough food to eat and cannot satisfy their other needs, such as being able to send all their children to school, paying for necessary health care and meeting cultural obligations. These households usually just rely on the cultivation of rice and

often have poor harvests. These households also live in permanent debt, and their housing conditions are very poor. You should also be considered poor if school-age children are not attending school. Briefly, poor people have little or no land, few household utensils; have food shortage, limited cash saving etc. There are strong links between discrimination against people experiencing homelessness or poverty and the health status of those groups. The fundamental principles of equality and freedom from discrimination have been identified as key components in all matters concerning health. This includes non-discrimination in access to health facilities, goods and services, paying particular attention to the most vulnerable or marginalized sections of the population. Discrimination can exclude people from access to good and services, health care, adequate housing, education and employment, all of which are powerful influences on and determinants of public health. Discrimination, especially in the areas of private housing, room and caravan rental, and also in health, is both widespread and can result in significant psychological deterioration as well as material deprivation of the recipient. Indeed, consistent discrimination of this nature results in deepening of identification with the marginalized condition so as to make negotiation through their issues more difficult. At a state level, the Equal Opportunity Act 1995 does not prohibit discrimination on the ground of social status, homelessness, poverty, unemployment or on the basis that a person is a recipient of social security or welfare assistance.