Ways Diversity Leads to Conflict

All individuals have diverse ethnic backgrounds

Human beings are a pretty diverse group. Differences in ethnicity, gender, gender orientation and religious beliefs are all forms of diversity. When diverse groups meet, oftentimes they co-exist and get along. Unfortunately, in the real world diversity sometimes leads to conflict.

Ethnic/Cultural Diversity Issues

Entire volumes have been written in the area of ethnic/cultural diversity leading to conflicts. For companies and organizations, this is a particularly sensitive area. The company may not see itself as being insensitive, but a ethnic group may see bias. This leads to conflicts. One example was the restaurant chain Sambo's. Reporter Todd Williams, writing for the Rapid City Journal, stated that African-Americans saw the name itself as being insensitive or even a slur, heralding back to the Little Black Sambo children's story. He reported that the Washington Redskins football team's name and logo is seen as derogatory by Native Americans.

Gender Diversity Issues in the Workplace

At one time in United States history, women were not allowed to vote. Many women's rights groups have actively fought for equal rights, including this right. As of 2011, the National Organization of Women (NOW) claims that a wage disparity exists between men and women. Other areas of concern are disparities of job promotions and job discrimination. Because of gender diversity, conflicts arise.

Gender Orientation Diversity

Historically, homosexuality was not socially sanctioned. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) fought to eliminate the anti-gender orientation bias in laws ands social customs since 1936, when a play was banned for suggesting a lesbian relationship. Since then, up to 2011, Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual and Transgendered (LGBT) diversity conflict issues continued. The list of social customs biased against the LGBT community was lengthy, and the ACLU and other grass roots LGBT groups, such as the San Francisco Pride, constantly sought to eliminate discrimination in the customs and laws. In 2011 a LGBT diversity conflict issue might be a discussion of whether same-sex marriages should be legally binding.

Religious Diversity Issues

Religious diversity is another sensitive area. Religion is a great source of conflict in many areas, particularly the workplace. For example, a religious group or person may have the conviction that Sunday is a holy day where no work occurs. The person's employer may not have the same views, and place the person on the schedule to work Sundays. If a person feels he has been discriminated against in the workplace because of religion, he can file a complaint with the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission (EEOC). The EEOC reported in 2009 that a class action lawsuit was settled in Minneapolis, Minnesota, against a meat processing facility. Muslims who refused to handle handle pork because of religious beliefs were not placed for employment at the processing facility by the contracting agency.

Political Diversity Issues

Political diversity often leads to conflicts. The disagreements can range from verbal assaults all the way up to wars. When groups very very strongly about an issue, compromise is not obtainable. Sometimes, people who are supposed to act dignified and orderly become so frustrated violence is the outcome. In 2010, reporter Elizabeth Crum wrote in the "National Review" that a fistfight broke out between supporters of two opposing candidates in a Nevada Senate forum.

References

• Rapid City Journal: The Fives: Racism, Consumerism, the Media and Our Continuing Obsession with Skin Color
• National Organization of Women: Women Deserve Equal Pay
• Unted States Equal Opportunity Employment Commision: Minnesota Federal District Court...EEOC Religious Discrimination Lawsuits
• National Review Online: Nevada Senate Forum Turn Raucous, Ends in Fistfight
• Amecican Civil Liberties Union: ACLU and the History of LGBT Rights and HIV/AIDS
• San Francisco Pride: About Us