Understanding and appreciating differences
Imagine a flower with lots of petals: each petal represents a part of you that makes you special, or a part that is important to you that makes you who you are as a person.
Some of our differences are visible, like the colour or shade of our skin, the shape and size of our body, the colour of our hair and eyes, and the clothes we wear. Some people wear a head cover or an item that is part of their faith or culture. Sometimes you can tell someone is male or female, and sometimes gender is ambiguous. You may notice a person’s disability because they use a mobility device or a guide-dog, but many disabilities are invisible.
One way to think about our differences is to imagine an iceberg. About 10 per cent of the iceberg is above water and therefore visible, but most of it remains hidden under water. When we meet people, we make quick judgements and assumptions based on what we see on the surface. But, most of the person’s identity remains unknown to us until we take the time to get to know him or her better.
Video discussion questions:
Now that you’ve watched the video, use these questions for personal reflection or to facilitate a discussion with your team:
- What thoughts and feelings arise for you from watching the video? What do you notice? Was anything surprising?
- What are the different dimensions of diversity that you recognize in the video? In what ways are the individuals diverse?
- What are the benefits of acknowledging and appreciating people’s differences?
Printable handouts and activities [PDFs]