Cultural Diversity In The United States

America is greatly influenced and enhanced by the many versatile cultures which inhabit it. Cultural diversity has added to our economy in such a way that it brings innovated ideas and contact structures throughout the world. International cuisines have come to America through subcultures, have expanded the food industry, and have allowed English Americans to try new foods and flavors. Immigrants have brought with them religious values that greatly differ and vary from those at which were natural in the main stream American culture. The educational development through foreign nationals has led America, as a nation, to excel and be deemed one of the most intelligent nations in the world! Consequently, the subcultures have kept our

The United States of America is a perfect example of cultural diversity. Starting with the Mayflower landing in Massachusetts Bay in 1620, to the Great Migration from 1915 to 1930, to the continual immigration into our country today this country has seen its culture grow and reshape itself over the years. The culture of the United States is diverse but understanding and appreciating various cultures does not always exist within today’s classroom or in today’s society. Understanding or even defining cultural diversity , identifying the challenges cultural diversity brings, or how to face cultural diversity are all issues educators face in today’s classroom.

Throughout the world social problems such as illiterate, elderly, handicapped, minority groups, and poverty have been the biggest part in our society for many years. Some of our social problems had died off, meanwhile, they’re still many problem that we are still facing as a society. One of the major social problem we face is people being illiterate. Being illiterate is meaning a person can not read nor write, and it can also mean that a person is grammatically incorrect. There is as much as 23% of the adult population that are ignorant to basic skills of the 4th grade level. In the U.S. the ethnic group that is most affected by not being able to read or write is

The presence of Latinos in the United States challenges the notion of there being only one specific type of American citizen, an English-speaking person who lives only in relation to an "Anglo" heritage. Alongside other minority groups, Latinos tend to believe in the notion that the United States must be made up of one bounded territory, within which people speak a singular language and experience one culture. So, when the Anglo groups are faced with Spanish speaking people who are in touch with their Latino heritage, they feel threatened by the people who can speak both Spanish and English. The response to this sense of threat involves marginalization and the obvious exclusion of Latino groups in the United States. At the

In the last 100 years, the American population of 65 years or older people has increased eleven times. The 2030 estimates project that 22.3 percent of the population (80 million) will be 65 or older. (Bookman & Kimbrel, 2011). Basically, the majority of the over 65 population is healthier and is living longer. However, people of color have suffered through racial suppression in this country. Many of them enter old age after a lifetime of struggle that has not allowed them to save for retirement and where, because they have not had access to decent health care, they are in poor health. (Bookman & Kimbrel, 2011). Medicare does not cover all of the care the elderly may need, especially those with chronic conditions.

The information that I have learned about diversity in the United States of America has helped me better understand and relate to others in many ways. The world is full of different people and ethnicity, race, creative individuals. Each race has issues to deal with rather it be prejudice and racism. Also during my time in this course I have learned a great deal about myself and I learned how to show more respect to other cultures, I already understood some of the cultures and races we studied this course but to get a better understanding and having to additional research really gave me an open mind and point of view what everyone deals with.

Although I am middle-aged, I have never traveled outside of the United States nor have I had the privilege to experience a wide diversity of cultures. Other than research or articles that I have read throughout my life, I have little knowledge pertaining to other cultures. However, through my former employment and my daughter, I have some experience and knowledge of the Hispanic families that relocated to our area.

America’s diversity is what flourishes the nation. Immigration is how most of the diversity in America took root. As more immigrants move to this country, more jobs become available, global competition and net exports increase, Americans become able to connect to the world in their own country, the nation’s language capacity and culture grows, and the nation begins to have more of a world-view (Kelly). According to the article “Seven Surprising Ways Immigration Helps Build a Stronger America” by Nataly Kelly- this diversity can not only strengthen the demographics of America but also “ideas that can help the American Dream to continue evolving with the times.” This quote is the heart of what this great nation is all about.

“It is time for our parents to teach young people early on that in diversity there is beauty and there is strength “Maya Angelou. Today, diversity has very much diminished. This, however, has not gone unnoticed. America is moving to a new standard in which diversity and individuality are encouraged more than uniformity and conformity as individuals have began to embrace their unique differences and accept that our differences are what gives us unity in this country.

Culture can be defined as “language, ideas, beliefs, customs, taboos, codes, institutions, tools, techniques, works of art, rituals, ceremonies, and symbols” (Merriam-Webster, 2014). The United States is currently experiencing a dramatic change regarding cultural diversity. According to a recent census, 36.3 percent of the United States population belongs to an ethnic or racial minority (U.S. Census Bureau, 2010). Increased immigration from around the world is continually adding to the numbers of our already culturally diverse nation. However, despite a marked increase in life expectancy, a decrease in infant mortality, and other health care improvements, many minority groups still experience poorer access to heal care. It should be the goal of every health care worker, especially nurses, to do all that is in their power to not only culturally congruent care but also to attempt to eliminate these health care related disparities.

I hail from the hearth of cultural diversity in the United States of America, New York City. Therefore it wouldn't be a surprise that all of my conscious life, I've been surrounded by different cultures, backgrounds, and views divergent from my own. Even though the sheer fact that my hometown displays an ability to thrive in a vibrant community, I don't believe that speaking about it alone would be sufficient enough to express why I would be able to fit into a vibrant community analogous to one of the most prestigious universities in the world, Rutgers University.

Throughout the United States, cultural diversity is increasing each day. Cultural diversity consists of the traditions, beliefs, values, languages, customs, and other various factors that identifies with individuals, as well as the groups they belong to. When it comes to conceptualizing cultural diversity, there are three different models that were used historically when it comes to “dealing with” cultural diversity. These three models include assimilation, pluralism, and multiculturalism.

In the United States, there are varieties of people from around the world, different cultures, speak different languages, and different socioeconomic background. The workshops I have created are targeting to the community with low-income, culturally diverse, and middle-age population. Many people who live in this area are largely comprises blue-collar workers, multigenerational families, single mothers, former inmates, and immigrants. According to the data in 2010 provided by the author Steven Camarota (2012), in the United States, there are 46.2 million people living in poverty. In 2010, from the 46.2 million living in poverty, 11.9 million are immigrants (Camarota, 2012). There are legal and illegal immigrants. Legal permanent residents may be green card or working visa holders. As of January 1, 2011, about 13.1 million legal permanent residents are living in the US (Rytina, 2012). Moreover, there are many unauthorized immigrants living in the US. Large percentages of unauthorized immigrants are from Mexico, Canada, Caribbean, Central America, South America, and Asia.

America has a diverse culture created from the unique blending of many people groups, each with their own set of personal and religious beliefs and traditions. Culture is an ever changing thing – with the shifting ideals, morals, and social behaviors that make up the particular group of people. Culture is defined as “The set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution or organization .” (Merriam-Webster online dictionary, 2016) America’s culture has changed drastically from the time of our founding fathers. In researching America’s history, as well as my own personal experience, I have observed this shift in thinking and behavior. From the ideas of moral absolutes as worded in such

Multiculturalism is the perpetuation of cultural identities within a society, while assimilation is the changing of different cultural identities to conform to predominate society’s cultural norm. Multiculturalism includes a rich variety of languages, assorted culturally reinforced attire, and the diversity of religious worship. With assimilation however, the cultures absorb each other’s cultural aspects, therefore becoming one people, but generally the dominate society characterizes prevail as prominent.