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Workplace diversity can only succeed if the prejudices that have plagued man since the beginning of time are eliminated. Diversity means that there will be a majority and many minorities in most cases. How does the majority class of workers perceive the other minorities? Do they have long held and strong beliefs about the place these minorities have?

I work in a business with many diverse cultures. The people come from countries that their language is very foreign. The first reaction you have is unfortunately to categorize them as hard to communicate with. Fortunately all have English skills of varying degrees and with experience you can learn to understand and eventually communicate very well with all your co-workers.

There is a perception that anyone who comes from a certain region or area is super intelligent. Perhaps they have to try harder to be able to earn an opportunity to leave their country and that account for the perception. Sadly, many people resent other nationalities that come to America and "take" jobs we feel are ours by birthright. In a true market economy, the jobs go to whoever can present themselves most worthy, as they should.

More and more women are finding places in today's workforce. Women's liberation aside, there is definitely a need for the fairer gender to make strides in the workforce. Women have a unique perspective that even the most "in touch with my feminine side" guy cannot muster.

We have to learn the right way to interact not only with diverse cultures, but with the women in our work force. The once allowed method of treating women as objects of harassment to keep them below the top rungs of the ladder must no longer be accepted. Only with these moves can diversity be successful.

Workplace diversity is not a short term proposition. Only with time and experience at adding diverse people groups to our workforce can we make this ultimately successful. I know for sure that my day to day life is dramatically different than what my father faced. In his 36+ years with the same employer I doubt he had more than one African American employee within his job experience. Perhaps he had interaction with truck drivers that picked up the loads he prepared as the shipping supervisor, but that is quite a different idea.

Workplace diversity also means that fewer Americans are qualifying for the positions in need. Why would people from other parts of the world go through such an effort to come here if the opportunity was not significantly better than what the can attain in their home region? We must not look at them as outsiders, but appreciate the effort they expend to help our company succeed so that our jobs will continue to be available.

Learn more about this author, Joe Owens.
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