Cultural Diversity

Religion has been a significant factor in my culture. Catholicism has influenced my values, judgment and personal conduct by emphazing humanitarianism; the inherent worth of all individuals, and morality based on the Ten Commandments. It taught me forgiveness, unity and acceptance. There are guidelines on what is appropriate, as well as consequences for misconduct. There are remedies for sins and optimism in times of despair. If necessary, I can find forgiveness in confession and hope with prayer. I unite with people from different economic backgrounds, race and age who share my common belief. Religion explores the meaning of life and death and the explanation for my existence in society and in the universe.

The media has several integrative functions. For example, politicians use it to try and shape my opinions, like the war on terrorism or reasons for higher taxes. Every time I turn on the television I am bombarded with materialism and consumerism, being influenced by conservative bias among the various corporations wanting me to buy their products. Public service announcements tug at my heart when I hear the story of the child who was killed by a drunk driver or the statistics of a fatal disease. Sitcoms continuously stereotype behavior and ignore the realities of race and class. Sometimes the media shapes how I evaluate myself. Do I fit the image? My favorite function of the television and movies is the entertainment, a brief distraction from my own life. Television also offers a common bond through sports and the Olympics.

My enculturation was based on the values and views from my single mother. She emphasized the importance of an education, hard work and motivation. But like many other single parent families, I spent a lot of time with alternative care providers, such as daycares and babysitters. Unfortunately, this seems to be the norm in our current society. My experiences have influenced my decision to work from home and play an active role in my children's lives.

My educational background included a private catholic school and publicly funded schools. They were both societal agents for conformity, setting behavioral standards including the value of individualism, competition, patriotism and diversity. The unparallel differences were the religious, financial, economic and race segregation. Public schools promote a nondenominational environment, desegregation of race and economic status. Whereas, the predominately