Self-Assessment Diversity Attitude Survey

After taking the first survey, Core Beliefs about Mind, Body, Spirit, and Reality, I realized my spiritual foundations are not as strong as I would have hoped. By spiritual I do not mean religious, but instead dealing with the human spirit, how I perceive the world around me. In short the reality that I have created for myself through my perceptions. There were several questions in the essay dealing with this topic. I held firm beliefs for some, weak beliefs for others, and even contradictory beliefs for a few that I felt I was more than just uncertain about, but couldn’t place myself easily in agreement or disagreement. I also played it safe, and did not strongly agree or disagree to too many questions. Only a few questions stirred in me these strong convictions. The first question stirring any real emotions being “Human nature is the same for all human beings. Human nature is constant; it does not change.” Human nature is constant. I equate human nature to instinctual survival. There are certain things that have kept this species alive. These things are engrained into our very being and we have been carrying it around with us since the beginning of civilization. If left to our own devices in an uncertain territory, our true nature will resurface. Switching on a more primal perception, and letting fall away the civilized veil we have been reprogrammed to wear. On the second survey, Core Beliefs: What I Learned from My Parents, my parents parenting skills came into question. Not attack mind you, just question. I realized that some of my well formed beliefs didn’t come from my parents. At least, I don’t remember it coming from them. However, the belief itself feels as if it has always been with me, from the day I took my first cognitive step forward. One such question was “I learned from my parents or those who raised me that it was important to make a genuine effort to understand other people.” Although, I make the genuine effort to understand other people, this is not something that was instilled to me by my parents. Through them was how I learned the importance of understanding others, especially those closest to us. My parents loved me and loved each other, but they were not without their problems. I had found myself in the middle of their squabbles many times counseling, listening, and even advising on matters I had yet to experience, being only a child at the time. But I don’t condemn them for their behavior; instead I thank them for their trust. Even as a child with minimal experience I understood the importance of communication and understanding, and always had a maturity to me that was far beyond my biological years. Other questions, I feel I came into learning through the aid not of my parents but of my sibling, like learning “from my parents or those who raised me that it was important to consider the thoughts, needs, and feelings of others.” I was an only child growing up, at least until the age of 6. I never interacted with children much, and was a loner by nature. My parents only cared about my interests. When my sister came into the picture, I knew she was someone who needed protection. I knew my job as an older sibling was to protect and serve, to change her if she was soiled and to feed her if she was hungry. I never minded it once. I still don’t. As she grew older and more active, I stood by and watched her. I watched her behavior and her interactions with others. I realized she was much more open then I was. I would talk to her about what made her so open and friendly, why she cared for other individuals, people other than family. She taught me that family was important, but so was everybody else. All anyone ever wants is to be respected and shown a little consideration. That is what she taught me. With her it was always instinctual. With other people it didn’t always come quite that easy. We both know she changed me for the good, and I believe, to this day, with her addition to the Lopez family came my humanity. In the third survey, Core Beliefs: How I Was Raised, I realized many of my beliefs were torn by cultural traditions and contemporary traditions. Growing up in the United States and attending public school will do that to you. The traditional and “proper” way of behaving was taught to me by my Grandmother. But my parents raised me as an American child, protecting and passing on some of the more traditional behaviors. But also exhibiting and communicating permissible behavior for this country. Although my family is quite open and friendly, I am not. I’m very closed off and I keep to myself. Casual touching of any kind makes me feel self conscious. My family didn’t raise me to feel that way; it is just a feeling I have always carried with me. For some reason or another I’m just not comfortable with it, which is actually quite amusing because most of the people I have attracted as friends are. So I bite my tongue for their sake and mine. For the fourth survey, Beliefs about Men, although my remarks on each question may come off a little stereotypical woman it turns out that these stereotypes are in fact true. Well, at least when dealing with the men that surround my life. I know not all men are the same, to say so would be cruel and unjust, but there are certain things that set apart men from women and that unite men from all walks of life. Like “Male humor is more often than not gross or offensive,” then again maybe I just hang out with the wrong crowd, but I don’t think so, because even the good, quiet boys make jokes that would be offensive to anyone. Of course, I relish in it and have been known to make a crude joke here and there, but that is the fun part about being friends with guys. Sometimes they can be so inappropriate. To be friends and survive a relationship with man, woman must know that what is usually said about men holds some truth. Another example would be “Men perceive reality differently than women.” A question I strongly agree with. We, men and women, see things and perceive realities completely different. An action that is perceived by the opposite sex as a wrong doing, may in fact not be that all. Miscommunication ensues and by then neither wants to listen to the other. But I also know, without the question being brought up in the survey that men are simple. Not simpleminded as some man-haters and feminists may have you believe. Instead, they are just simple. If they want you to know something they’ll tell you. Although they do have emotions, they are a bit more constricted with them. “Showing emotion is showing weakness,” is what I imagine one of the rules to read in the MANual. But if a guy wants you to know how they feel and they feel comfortable enough to show you they will, simple. Survey 5, Beliefs about Women, also had some very stereotypical questions that held truth in their words. But when answering these questions I couldn’t help but feel a little bias toward my gender, obviously. Looking at this survey with a female friend it was very interesting to gauge her reaction to that of mine. She had much more to say and stronger reactions than that of my own, and even complete opposite feelings on certain questions, like “Flights into romantic fantasy are common in women.” I completely disagree with that, nowadays women barely have enough time to cultivate a relationship, let alone fantasize about one. And these flights, do they include erotic fantasies? I believe men do a little more than just fantasize about the feel of a woman, some dream about the perfect girl, the perfect relationship, even the perfect family. There were quite a few factors that definitely played a part in how I answered certain questions, basing certain responses on how I see the world as a woman and how the women around me live their lives. Survey 6, Beliefs about Race, was another survey I played it safe, keeping my cool and rarely responding strongly to any question. Although the first part of the survey was answered mainly with disagrees. As I continued with the survey I wondered about a lot of things, did I really feel that way. Even if I didn’t, I know I wouldn’t want to accept all the stereotypes about race; I wouldn’t let myself fall into that frame of thought. Then I began to think maybe certain races are offered certain privileges and that is what fortifies the stereotypes. But then again other races aren’t given the same chances and must make do with what they have. For example, “Black people as a race are gifted athletes and entertainers.” I believe this because many “black people” do tend to excel in sports and entertainment. Ten just crossed my mind typing up that sentence, Will Smith, Cedric the Entertainer, Michael Jordan, and if I was remotely interested in sports I know I’d have a few more names to add to the list. But maybe in them doing well, doors are opened to others who related to these men, and opportunities arise, if not opportunities, then definitely confidence in exceeding in such fields. But when certain races are mentioned to being more power hungry over others, or more economically savvy, then I think of all the situations in History that may have led to those races being seen in that light. For the final survey, which by this time I thank God I was able to get through Beliefs about Sex and Gender, I was able to get through it fairly quickly with few hesitations and a more clearer view of how I see Sex and Sexuality. Sex and sexuality is not as black and white as we would hope. There are several misconceptions and gray areas. And I dislike gray areas, but sometimes it’s not always clear cut. Gender identity and what shapes it, homosexuality and what triggers it, even “regular” relations, if there are such things, are a messy part of life. During questions of homosexuality I would make strong opinions due to the allies I have made who are “gay.” Sex like life is messy and should be enjoyed to the fullest and with those you love.