When people first think of Utah they think of a state full of white, Conservative Mormons, and assume our beehive state is far from diverse. But what these people need to think about the definition of diversity. It’s not just our physical characteristics that make us diverse; it is so much more.
When a person thinks of the word “diversity,” their mind jumps straight to race and gender. But race and gender are really only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to diversity. Level of education, relationship status, religious affiliation, geographic upbringing, personal interest, family structure, and personality traits are all key components of diversity. If you look at Utah (or any place for that matter) with this lens, it is actually a very diverse place.
Diversity is all about looking at things from a different perspective. To understand diversity, you have to stop focusing on gender and race and realize that there are many more pieces to the puzzle. True diversity comes from an individual’s personal and professional background.
If you look at a class at the University of Utah, you may see a room full of primarily white males, but if you take a new perspective, you will see people with different religions, economic backgrounds, and economic structures. In that one classroom, you could have a married couple, a single parent, an LGBTQ person, a bi-racial person, a person who loves soccer, a cancer survivor, a veteran, an Army brat, and a person who believes in Greek mythology. All of the people in this room have different perspectives, ideas, and beliefs, and this is a true image of diversity, and that is what makes the U so diverse.
Diversity is very important, and it is so much more than what people think. Diversity is the beliefs, ideas, and characteristics that make us each unique, so when you or someone you know thinks that the environment they are in is not diverse, remind them that diversity is complex. Diversity is beautiful.
The University of Utah is a very diverse place, and if you open your mind a little, you will see it for yourself.