Describe the Community you Live in

Table of Content

Highlight some of the variations you may observe in terms of: Interests Beliefs Ages Lifestyles Personal, social and cultural identities. There is a different mix of people within the community in which I live. In the immediate community there are many variations; in the CUL De sac in which I live, it is occupied by people of all ages, from the very young (babies) all the way through to older people (Pops). There are differing values within these people due to age, as well as culture as there are people from different backgrounds.

From what I can observe, there are a few people from Poland (whom speak Polish and English) and there are people whom have a black ethnicity to which am unsure where they originate from and the language other than English which they speak. Different cultures have differing values and expectations, it is observable for instance in the way they dress. There are more variations within lifestyles, as some of the people whom I live near go to church, others don’t as well as people who smoke, have foul language and other various personal or lifestyle differences.

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Within my community you can see people have many interests, I can see them riding their bikes and playing football. There are groups of older people gathering and taking, socializing with one another. There are many mother and baby groups, as well as fitness groups at the local church (Samba). There are many cultures within my community, therefore there are more than one alluding devoted to faith and religion. There is a mosque, denominations of Christianity (such as Church of England, Catholicism and catholic schools) as well as a faith building I’m not too sure about.

There are many activities specialized for the different ages, there are mother and baby/toddler groups (which there are many babies and toddlers within the community), there are many schools, after school clubs and social groups for children (although their doesn’t seem as many children of school age). There are more people of retirement age, and the majority of the people within the community would appear to be out of work, for which there is a local job centre where the people of ages 20-40 seem to gather which is right next to the pub! The community I live in there is many different styles of housing.

Immediately around myself there are new build houses and apartments as it has been build on the old hospital grounds. Further a field there is a lot of social housing as well as student lets. Due to the area, the Muslim religion is very prominent especially with cultural outfits. 3. Explain how the variations in question 2 contribute to the diversity of the community. Each person has a unique set of qualities that makes them different from al other people, these variations within qualities are known as individual differences and contribute to the diversity of a community.

Different cultures, backgrounds, languages, age, gender and social/lifestyle choices all seen in the community in which I live all add to the diverse community in which I live, as diverse means different and varied. 4. Give some examples to explain how diversity: Enhances your life Enhances the local community Enhances this country. Diversity has enhanced my life in many ways; it has given me a wide range of experiences and opportunities.

I have got to know people who are different to yeses e. G. People originating from many different countries from my own (within my community there are many people orientating from Poland, I have got to know them and their culture), ethnic backgrounds, people of different genders (l have got to know many men within my community), with different sexual preferences (within my community there are people who are homosexual and heterosexual and I have learnt not to judge), values , beliefs, interests and economic backgrounds, it has given me an insight into how others live or feel and has taught me to emphasis with others and to appreciate what I have.

It has also brought scope for me to develop a wider variety of friendships and relationships. I now have quite a diverse friendship group with people of all backgrounds. Diversity has enhanced my community as it has brought new and different products and services to my community; this includes different items of clothing or food products. There are many sari shops and hall butchers as well as take away e. G. Indian, Chinese and Jamaican. It has enhanced my community, as diverse qualities have come together and created something new.

For example, the combination of different cooking styles, different language patterns and efferent musical forms can lead to something exciting and fresh. Diversity has enhanced my country as it has brought new ideas to the country, the way the country should be run, the laws and legislation that is required and has opened the people of the country eyes to the wider world. The country is now multicultural, with many languages, cultures, different food and services; it has provided a new and differently skilled work force and enhanced the economy.

For example, there are now many healthcare professionals such as doctors whom have studied and worked in different countries and gained valuable experience with what would be rare illnesses or infections within the UK due to the Auks quite high standards of living compared to that within some of other countries. The country now also has many workers from other countries that are willing to do some jobs that many people within the UK did not want to do (some of the lowest paid jobs).

Describe what it means to respect people’s differences and why it is important to respect differences. When people learn to appreciate diversity it develops a greater understanding and respect for people’s differences. People will have similarities and differences thin their qualities; if people have similarities with one another it is easier for them to accept one another. However, when people have different qualities to one another, they may act in many ways. To respect those differences is to accept that everyone has the right to be different. This does not mean to accept or agree with those qualities or choices, it just means that you tolerate them and can live with them.

Describe yourself in terms of: Personal interests Religion / culture Geography. Would describe myself as not having many personal interests, I use to be someone who enjoyed sports and socializing, but becoming a mother has made those interests very difficult. Instead my interests have become reading books and spending time trying to achieve personal goals. Eve spending time with my partner and my daughter. I would not consider myself as being very religious however; being a part of the Church of England it is important to me to live by the guidelines of the church.

I would say that I am a part of the western culture. Geographically I would describe myself as a Brume, a British citizen. 8. What is meant by having multiple identities? Give three examples in relation to people you know. Multiple identities means having more than one characteristic that defines who we are as a person. Humans are multifaceted therefore if we were defined as avian one identity such as being male or female, then there would be nothing that would uniquely define us as humans from one another.

By having multiple characteristics, such as our interests, ideas, cultures, our relationships, genders, race etc it creates a unique individual with multiple identities all with the ability to be discriminated against. Example 1: My mother is a parent in front of her children, she is also a wife to my father, and she used to be a daughter to her parents and is now a grandparent to my daughter. She is a Christian, and is heterosexual. She is disabled, and is also unemployed. It is evident that my mother has many identities and may act different for each of the identities with different people.

Having multiple identities for my mother means that it is possible to be seen in many different lights, and it is possible for her to be discriminated against for each of those multiple identities. This could include, unemployed, disabled women whom is a Christian all at once. However, it is also possible to be discriminated against for other identities that she may have as well. My father is a parent to his children, a grandparent to my daughter, he is a husband to my mother, and he is also a heterosexual male. He is a manager to people lower than him at work, but also a colleague.

He is a friend and a keen Villa Supporter. He is a member of the Labor party. He evidently has multiple identities and can be seen in many ways. Having multiple identities for my father means that it is possible to be seen in many different lights, and it is possible for him to be discriminated against for each of those multiple identities. This could include, his class, being a villa supporter, being a member of the labor party or even being male, all at once. However, it is also possible to be discriminated against for other identities that he may have as well.

Example 3: My partner is a friend to myself and a boyfriend, he is a father to my daughter and a son to his parents, and he is a brother to his sisters and an uncle to his niece and nephew. He is a colleague to his work mates, a keen Southampton supported and a truck spotter. It is evident that my partner has many identities and may act different for each of the identities with different people. Having multiple identities for my partner means that it is possible to be seen in many different lights, and it is possible for him to be discriminated against for each of those multiple identities.

This could include, being a Southampton supporter, lorry spotter or even being male, all at once. However, it is also possible to be discriminated against for other identities that he may have as well. 9. What is meant by shared identity? A person will have many characteristics that may be shared by others. When people have a shared quality or characteristic this is a shared identity. 10. Explain and give examples of how an individual can identify themselves as belonging to a number of different groups. A person can identify themselves with a number of groups, e. G. Heir gender group; whether that be male or female (or transgender), their sexuality; trousseaux or homosexual, their religion, culture, geographically etc. An example of this could be, a homosexual male student aged 19 goes to university in Birmingham but is from Manchester.

This male WOUld identify themselves as ‘male’ ‘homosexual’ ‘student’ ‘age 19’ ‘from Manchester’ ‘Lives in Birmingham’, this is just a small example and it is much more complex as that male may identify themselves in many more groups. 11. Describe yourself in terms of your multiple identities. M a mother, daughter, sister, girlfriend, niece, cousin, friend etc I am a number of people to the people am close to, all which have different identities. M a student, a Christian and a member of the IAMB. I am from Birmingham and England and I share identities with other Christians, people in the same geographic locations and members of the IAMB. 12. What is meant by stereotyping and labeling? Stereotyping is when you judge a group of people with a shared characteristic who are different from you based on your own and/or others opinions and/ or encounters.

It could be both positive and negative and may not be the truth. They don’t try to understand or respect the person’s unique qualities. Labeling refers to giving names to people based on their characteristics such as nationality, race etc. It is a form of prejudice and discrimination, as labels determine how people are and will be treated within society. People use their own prejudice to create these labels and they may not be based on the truth. 13. Explain why some people stereotype others. People stereotype because the human mind likes order and attempts to see patterns in disorderly situations.

It is much more comfortable to have a routine and a set of instructions that allow certain outcomes than it is to challenge our own minds, they like to make sense of the world. People can also become a bit lazy and not make the effort to change their outlooks. To change our outlooks would be to look far within and this can be frightening for many. People also have the desire to fit in and will act in accordance to that. It could also be because they have been programmed into thinking that the stereotypes they are using or thinking are actually the truth, as it can be passed down from generation to generation.

With some people being ignorant or not wanting to learn more about the group. Provide two examples of the damaging effects that stereotyping and labeling can have on people. There are many ways that stereotyping and labeling can have damaging effects on people. An example of this is conflict, by stereotyping and labeling people in a negative way could cause conflict e. G. Scottish people are tight fisted. This label given by the English to the Scottish people may in fact upset the Scottish people and cause conflict between the two groups of people.

Another example of the damaging effects of stereotypes and labeling have on people is that if you label people in a negative way then they may start acting in according to that stereotype. An example of where stereotyping had a negative effect on a group is Blacks were actively discriminated against and held out of certain places ND activities. They were treated as second class citizens and white people were hostile towards them. They laws were against them and they wasn’t even aloud to sit down on a bus. This carried on for years, and restricted the black population.

Times have changed since then, however there is still some hostility. This just shows that stereotyping can start as something small and end up segregating groups of people, causing civil wars and even deaths. Provide at least two examples of the way stereotyping is perpetuated in society. Stereotyping is perpetuated in society by the media, the views of the media is arced onto the public, in a kind of brainwashing way, e. G. Muslims are terrorists. The media shows Islamic people as terrorists by showing only the examples of this in the media and scaring the public into believing it.

This is also true of the views of families, friends or peer groups teaching young people or influencing people into having the same views as them. Stereotypes that are passed on through families and have been in existence for a long period is thought of as true facts; however this is not always the case. 16. Define prejudice and discrimination. Prejudice is a preconceived opinion not based on reason or experience. When someone discriminates against someone they use that prejudice and treat someone based on their ideas.

Discrimination means treating a person or group differently based on their prejudices, usually it means that people act in a negative way to a group of people due to their opinion. A person, whom discriminates, takes no time to understand a group of people or to even sympathies with them, but instead they judge them. Explain how people may develop prejudices. There are two main ways in which people develop prejudices. The first way is through solicitation, you learn the views of other people including family, rinds and the media.

For example, a certain member of my family does not agree with immigration within the country and believes that the only people who should live within the country should be the white people who are born here. Now for people such as myself I understand that, that view is very extreme and there is both a lack of understanding and tolerance, but he has 3 young children who believe that their father would not lie to them and therefore copy what their father says and believes. This breads negativity and makes no attempt to integrate with cultures other than that of their own.

They will experience these sews on a daily basis and it will stick with them and influence their views. When family bring children up with set views the children can come to view or think of the ideas as facts and believe them to be true and therefore will not challenge them. The second way is through over generalization, this is when a person has a bad experience and then generalists it to a group. This could be related to the idea that all Muslim people are terrorists, people could believe this to be true because the media focuses on a terrorist attack such as 9/11 and then strike fear into the people through association.

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