Diversity

Wetlands are represented in Saudi Arabia in the form of mangrove, sabkha, and wadi (valleys) systems, and these habitats are considered as a sanctuary for biodiversity. The present study aimed to identify different vegetation groups in a wetland site in Wadi Hargan near Alqurainah, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and to relate different plant communities and plant diversity to soil moisture, salinity, and other soil properties. Floristic analysis and vegetation structure were investigated within 15 stands along the wadi and were subjected to correlation analysis with soil factors via multivariate analysis. The floristic survey revealed the presence of 111 plant species belonging to 39 families. The most represented families were Asteraceae, Poaceae, Brassicaceae, Caryophyllaceae, and Papilionaceae, which accounted for the largest proportion (55.4%) of the total species. The therophytes were the dominant life form, where they were represented by 46.9% of the total number of species. The applic...

The Jewish peoples have endured thousands of years of discrimination and subjugation, yet during this new millennium, Jews and antisemitism are conspicuously absent from university ethnic studies classroom discourse in the United States. Those scholars, determined to penetrate the walls of the multicultural education stronghold, are met with an ebb and flow of silence and vociferous resistance. A primary rationale for multiculturalists ignoring antisemitism appears to be the Zionist question and how they, themselves, perceive Israel's relationship with Palestine. This qualitative case study analyzed interviews of six prominent scholars in the areas of multiculturalism, history, and Judaism through a critical pedagogical lens. Throughout this paper, the author explores his personal experiences in regard to educational multiculturalists and the dismissal of Jews as a persecuted group. From discourse analysis of themes and recurrent meanings in the data, it is evident that the majority of study participants believe that Israel's behavior toward the Palestinians is unacceptable, yet that does not justify the large-scale generalizations of the Jewish people in the United States. As a result, this paper argues for the inclusion of the Jewish experience into university multicultural discourse.

This paper engages with the formative concepts of diversity and intersectionality, inquiring how far they are used as tools for achieving (gender) justice that opens up spaces for marginalized constituencies, including racial and religious minorities, colonial subjects, queers, and women and how they unwittingly reify the hegemony of an entitled majority by failing to realize their emancipatory possibilities.

URL: http://webhost1.cortland.edu/wagadu/

The paper argues that the UK music industry is an unequal sector to work in, despite the outward facing gloss of multiculturalism the Top 40 Chart presents. In light of this environment the paper’s main research aim was to uncover the attitudes and practices of employers within the music industry towards equality and diversity.

The methodology was completed by two methods; a comprehensive literature review (to assess both sectoral and organisational explanations for existing discrimination in the music industry) and the collection of empirical data through a fixed method strategy. Specifically the objectives of the research were to:

1. Research the main theories and concepts of equality and diversity in the workplace
2. Critically evaluate existing diversity diagnostic tools and create a fit for purpose equality and diversity questionnaire for the music industry
3. Through analysis of the resulting data, assess the current behaviours and attitudes towards diversity in the music industry and the corresponding outcomes

The findings were that organisations with an equality and diversity policy were often less diverse than those without, at all levels. In other words simply having a policy is no guarantee of a diverse workforce. However in organisations where the diversity climate is ‘strongly supportive’ of equality and diversity issues the effect is different; a supportive culture halves the numbers of organisations who have no women working in them at all. It increases the overall female workforce of an organisation by 3%, the senior management workforce by over 20% and at director level by 17%. Having organisational support reduces the number of organisations who have no BAME staff by 5%. It increases the percentage of BAME staff overall by 4.5% and increases senior management BAME staff by 12%. This research shows that getting support from the leaders of the music industry has the potential to change the entire sector.

The research limitation was the sample size was low; only 152 fully completed questionnaires were completed out of 297 initiated from 2,002 emails sent out. An analysis of the high drop out rate is given demonstrating organisations with an already positive attitude towards equality and diversity were much more motivated to complete the survey. With an α level of 95% from a population size of 7,903, the obtained sample range gives a level of precision of ±8%. This is low but still an acceptable precision level, however further research is recommended.

Diversity research in the UK reveals a gap in any of the creative sectors and in particular the music industry. CC Skills have published the over-arching sector statistics since 2006 but there have been no in-depth studies going beyond that. This paper reveals details of employers’ attitudes in a sector which has never been analysed before. This work therefore contributes to the body of knowledge that is just developing about the creative industries.

Key Words: diversity climate, diagnostic tools, creative industries, music industry, attitudinal analysis

This paper presents the author’s reaction to watching the Jane Elliot’s “Blue Eyes and Brown Eyes Experiment” and answers the question: Do you believe that it is still necessary to teach children about prejudice, racism, discrimination and "difference," in a classroom setting? Note: Because this is a reaction paper, it is written in first person.

In order to better cope with the pressures and stresses of the current day, modern psychology is anxiously seeking to find new therapies to address the increasing disorders within the human psyche. In the process new fields of research, such as humanistic and transpersonal psychology, curiously appear to borrow more and more from the wisdom of the ages. This volume, containing eighteen articles by noteworthy expositors of the perennial philosophy such as Huston Smith, Seyyed Hossein Nasr, and Frithjof Schuon, presents the spiritual psychology of the wisdom traditions as a much-needed antidote to the current impasse in modern psychology.

Some Endorsements for Psychology and the Perennial Philosophy:

“[Psychology and the Perennial Philosophy] is more than an anthology. It is a wisely crafted collection of classic and contemporary scholarship noting that what many are seeking is what has always been, a perennial philosophy, that remains foundational. As one of the authors, Tage Lindbom, properly notes, ‘Secularization is a fish in troubled waters.’ This book claims the waters and is essential reading for all those who may have forgotten or are simply ignorant of the rich foundation provided by the perennial philosophy.”
—Ralph W. Hood, Professor of Psychology at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, past president of the Psychology of Religion division of the American Psychological Association, co-founder of The International Journal for the Psychology of Religion and co-author of The Psychology of Religion

“A necessary and bracing critique of the assumptions and limitations of contemporary Western psychology, this generous volume is also a passionate call and learned guide towards a truer perspective that embraces man's spiritual nature.”
—Gabor Maté, M.D., and author of In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction

“Knowing the nature of the mind is perhaps the most difficult undertaking, especially in today’s world. To comprehend the nature of mind one needs to turn to the domain of religion and spirituality. Yet the truth of the mind and its complexity cannot explicitly be defined in words. Inner or transcendent wisdom sees the mind’s own nature without the duality of the seer. Suchness (tathatā) of mind is only experiential and not expressible. The words used to describe thought are themselves a product of thought, which is conditioned and limited. Thus, differences and contradictions are unavoidable. Therefore, a comparative study of different viewpoints and commentaries is immensely important to awaken the inner intelligence to see the mind as it is. Psychology and the Perennial Philosophy: Studies in Comparative Religion edited by Samuel Bendeck Sotillos is an outstanding effort in this direction.”
—Samdhong Rinpoche, former Prime Minister (Kalon Tripa) of the Tibetan Government-in-exile, author of Uncompromising Truth for a Compromised World: Tibetan Buddhism and Today’s World

“The rise of psychology has impacted the study and practice of spirituality, the experiences and attitudes relevant to ultimate human values that transcend ordinary behavior. Each chapter of this remarkable book demonstrates this interaction in a unique and provocative way. But rather than using psychology to reduce and ‘psychologize’ spiritual topics, its authors demonstrate how directives from the spiritual traditions can enhance and even illuminate the enduring importance of psychology in the 21st century.”
—Stanley Krippner, Saybrook University, co-author of Spiritual Dimensions of Healing

“The work at hand is a thinking and debating man’s delight. If you have any interest at all in attempting to include an educated and enlightened view of man’s higher functions in your purview of the world, you will learn from and enjoy this collection of essays. If you already have some knowledge in this area, brace yourself: you may see some of your favorites sharply criticized. A thought-provoking work.”
—Bruce W. Scotton, University of California, San Francisco, co-editor of Textbook of Transpersonal Psychiatry and Psychology

“This book, superbly edited by Samuel Bendeck Sotillos, is a masterful critique of the field of psychology and its loss of the sacred ground in which it once was rooted. It offers depth psychologists an opportunity to contemplate timeless truths echoed through the centuries by perennial philosophers who have always claimed psyche is subordinate to Spirit. Although ignored in depth psychology’s early years due to prejudice and lack of understanding, this is a message today’s psychotherapists must take seriously. Human beings need a deeper and wider transpersonal vision of who and what we are, which the saints and sages of the world’s spiritual traditions have always pointed to. In psychotherapy with a therapist committed to such a vision, patients penetrate into their unconscious depths and not infrequently awaken to the Ground of all Being. Their suffering itself occurred because they had turned away from Spirit. Above all, this volume passionately calls upon depth psychology to remember its origin in the perennial wisdom at the core of the great religions. There is something of a polemic in these pages. It deserves to be considered by depth psychologists of all persuasions.”
—Bryan Wittine, Transpersonal psychologist and Jungian psychoanalyst

“This anthology from Samuel Bendeck Sotillos is a must reference for anyone who is interested in psychology and its relationship to spirituality, and in developing an inclusive dialogue between disciplines that favor an integral outlook on the person and his or her potential. Selections in this anthology will inspire us to reexamine the metaphysical underpinnings of psychology, and remind us how important it is to rise above science’s attempt to reduce the human being to an epistemic object.”
—Sangeetha Menon, National Institute of Advanced Studies (Bangalore, India), Board Member of the International Transpersonal Association (ITA), author of The Beyond Experience: Consciousness in Bhagavad Gita

“This anthology has some of the most discerning essays and reviews on spirituality and psychology, which provide much-needed care and caution to all those engaged in bringing them together or who wish to do so in future. Therefore, it is a must-read for all those who teach, research, consult, or study in such frontier areas as transpersonal psychology, states of consciousness, mind-body relation, holistic health, Indian psychology, and so on. It will be an invaluable textbook for courses in these and other related areas. I congratulate the editor of the book.”
—Kiran Kumar K. Salagame, University of Mysore (India), Board Member of the International Transpersonal Association (ITA), author of The Psychology of Meditation: A Contextual Approach

“One of the finest collections of essays on the Perennial Philosophy—a must-read for all psychologists who are engaged with spirituality and transpersonal psychology. The essays which critique modern psychology (including transpersonal psychology, and the framework of Carl Jung), in the light of the Perennial Philosophy are a revelation and make compelling reading. The book serves as a corrective to the excesses of modern psychology, and to this end Sotillos has done a commendable job. I for one will include the book in some of the graduate courses that I teach.”
—Suneet Varma, University of Delhi, co-editor of Foundations of Indian Psychology

“To its credit modern science by-and-large is becoming more cognizant of the essential connection between spirituality and psychological health and well-being and most of all its positive implications within the field of psychology. While there is ample data to document this in a plethora of academic journals and books, this new book Psychology and the Perennial Philosophy adds a novel contribution to the dialogue between psychology and spirituality, which captures many nuances that for the most part go unnoticed within these discussions, and last but not least, it provides a keen eye of discernment to understand this intricate relationship on a deeper level that is crucially needed. This work will be a valuable asset to students and long term mental health practitioners and professors alike who seek to better understand the relationship between psychology and spirituality.”
—Harold G. Koenig, Duke University, Director of the Center for Spirituality, Theology and Health, co-author of The Handbook of Religion and Health

This paper addresses the scientific and social interests in the comparative analysis of the international importance of language. In order to classify the different approaches to this analysis according to the criteria on which they are based, the following typology is proposed: the perception of importance, the estimation of importance, and the calculation of complex indexes. Secondly, the study provides an update to the international language index and its indicators for the year 2020. Finally, the results are analyzed and compared with those of the previous indexes. The analysis provides a picture of the plural and polycentric constellation of international languages including Spanish and Portuguese, defined by their areas of influence and spread.

The present study estimated the influence of academic and social collegiate experiences on Latino students' sense of belonging, controlling for background differences , using hierarchical analysis techniques with a nested design. In addition, results were compared between Latino students and their White counterparts. Findings reveal that grades, time spent studying, and interactions with diverse peers affect sense of belonging, accounting for approximately 11% of Latino students' belonging. Differences were found between Latino and White students. Important implications are discussed.

Resumen: El presente estudio estimó la influencia de experiencias sociales y académicas en el sentido de pertenencia de estudiantes latinas/os; se controlaron las diferencias étni-cas, usando técnicas de análisis jerárquico con un diseño de nido. Además los resultados se compararon entre estudiantes latinas/os con su contraparte de estudiantes blancos. Los hallazgos revelan que las calificaciones, el tiempo usado en estudiar, y las relaciones con compañeros diversos afectan el sentido de pertenencia; lo cual representó aproxima-damente 11% del sentido de pertenencia de los estudiantes latinas/os. Se encontraron diferencias entre estudiantes blancos y latinas/os. Se discuten implicaciones importantes.

The modern workplace is a pivotal arena for shaping societal gender inequalities. This chapter reviews theory and research on gender inequality in workplace organizations. We first provide a quick historical overview of the role of gender in the modern division of labor and present data on intersectional patterns of gender inequality in labor force participation, as well as horizontal and vertical occupational sex segregation. We then discuss prevailing theoretical explanations for these inequalities, moving from individual-level theories to structural and organizational explanations. This is followed by a review of empirical evidence on gender inequality at work, beginning with studies exploring the cultural, relational and structural mechanisms for reproducing gender inequality in organizations and moving to discussing research on mechanisms for reducing inequality. We argue that more theory and research ought to be focused on the remediation of inequality and discuss two directions: the first is an institutional theory of remediation, examining the ways in which institutional environments and actors can weaken gendered organization; and the second is a political theory focusing on the means and conditions for women to act as agents of organizational change. We conclude with suggestions for future research and theory development.

As the workplace becomes more diverse and global in nature, organizations are implementing diversity training to manage this trend. However, previous research has rarely explored empirically employees’ perceptions toward diversity training in different cultures. The study presented here examined reactions to a diversity training program conducted by a large multinational corporation in eight countries spanning the individualistic-collectivistic continuum. Results showed that while trainee culture influenced perceptions of diversity training, trainee job level and trainer culture moderated this relationship. Furthermore, trainer culture and gender interacted to influence
perceptions of training utility and trainer effectiveness. Implications for instituting corporatewide diversity training on an international scale are considered.

We examined the influence of training focus (similarities or differences) and trainer characteristics (race and sex) on the effectiveness of a diversity training program. An examination of the results reveals that when the training content focused on similarities among individuals, trainees expected fewer instances of backlash and chose more effective conflict resolution strategies than their counterparts whose training content focused on differences among individuals. Trainer race and sex had no impact on trainee evaluations when the course was focused on similarities, whereas trainees in the course highlighting differences responded least favorably to the White male trainer. Further, the purported importance of trainee reactions is supported by evidence of its mediating role between training focus and affectively based learning criteria. We discuss implications and directions for future research.

This article reflects on how the diversity discourse in an undergraduate classroom can be enhanced by paying
attention to particularities such as the location and mission of the educational institution, the identity of the teacher,
and the demographic profile of students. In particular, the author develops two distinctive points about teaching
diversity in higher education: (a) diversity discourse in classrooms can be enhanced by deep reflections on
geographical location, institutional contexts, student demographics, and the professor’s situated identities; and b)
diversity conversations need to move beyond celebrating common ground. Although the article employs examples from
one specific course in religious studies, the pedagogical insights and strategies offered here can be employed
universally in the fields of humanities and social sciences.

The authors present a Research Full Paper on the application of critical and liberative theories in understanding the disproportionately low student outcomes of marginalized undergraduate students studying engineering at a large, highly selective public university in the United States. In addition to looking at women students and students of color, we also examine the effects of social class on educational opportunity and performance, hypothesizing that access to financial capital is correlated to student success. In recognition of class-related structural oppression, this study introduces the framework of Freirean critical theory and other anti-oppressive frameworks as lenses through which we observe and analyze student experiences and outcomes.

We pursue a quantitative study in which we investigate engineering student outcomes based on reported gender, ethnicity, and household income level. Dependent variables include degree completion rates, time to graduation, and grade point average after the first four semesters of study. We find that students of color and working class students experience lower rates of graduation , prolonged time to degree, and lower grade point averages than students who do not fall into either of these categories. These results are heavily influenced by the intersectionality of students of color and working class students, as the two groups largely overlap both in the United States population and in the engineering student body at this institution.

The results support liberative theoretical claims that societal structures, such as patriarchalism, racism, and capitalism, have filtering effects that impact the opportunities available to individuals with marginalized identities throughout their lives. As incremental interventions fail to address the roots of these problems, they cannot entirely remove the debilitating obstacles facing students from marginalized identity groups; the only true solution lies in liberation from oppressive social structures. In accordance with critical and liberative theories, engineering educators can and should contribute to liberative efforts by employing pedagogical methods that challenge structural oppression.

Aim: To assess the metacommunity structure of woody plants in the Atlantic Forest (AF), compare the structure across its different forest types and evaluate the contribution of multiple scales and environmental drivers for the total biodiversity, providing theoretical basis for efficient conservation of this important hotspot.
Location: South America, Brazilian Atlantic Forest.
Methods: We compiled the occurrence of 2,071 woody plants in 177 sites across the Brazilian AF. We assessed the elements of metacommunity structure (species coherence, turnover and boundary clumping) to identify which idealized structure (checkerboard,
nestedness, Clementsian, Gleasonian, evenly spaced or random) characterizes the AF and its forest types. We used the additive partition of diversity to determine the main spatial scales promoting biodiversity in the AF, that is local (within sites, α-diversity), regional (among sites in each forest type, β1) or geographical (between forest types, β2), and examined environmental variables driving the metacommunity of the AF and forest types using canonical ordinations.
Results: The AF and its forest types presented positive coherence, negative turnover and large boundary clumping values which best-fit
the nested subsets metacommunity structure with clumped species loss. The diversity within sites (α-diversity) and among types (β2) was higher than expected by chance. The climatic gradient driving the species composition differed in the AF. Temperature variation affected the entire AF, particularly Dense and Seasonal forests, whereas precipitation affected mostly the Mixed forest.
Main conclusions: Despite the similar structure underlying AF metacommunities, the main environmental gradient in each forest differs, highlighting ecological differences among communities at geographical scale. These differences are determinant for the
high levels of biodiversity found in the AF. Conservation efforts should encompass all the AF ecosystems, considering its unique characteristics and prioritizing species-rich sites given that they adequately represent the regional species pool.

Os conceitos de diversidade e diferença no que toca à população estudantil são indispensáveis quando nos referimos à educação e à escola do presente. Este artigo explora as respostas e conceptualizações associadas à utilização de planeamento educativo individualizado no contexto português. Com base num enquadramento teórico de " dilemas de diferença " , são exploradas as noções de categorização, currículo e localização, relativamente a um grupo de alunos identificados pelos seus professores como " diferentes e com necessidades diferentes ".

The concepts of diversity and difference in reference to the pupil population are crucial when we refer to education and schools nowadays. This article looks at the responses and conceptualisations of diversity and difference linked to individualised educational planning approaches in the Portuguese context. Through a theoretical framework of " dilemmas of difference " it explores the concepts of identification, curriculum and localisation, of a group of pupils identified by their teachers as " different and needing something different " .

La lucha del movimiento LGBTI ha marcado las últimas dos décadas en el sistema de derechos humanos de la ONU. Una lucha marcada por un proceso de reconocimiento de sus derechos, reconocimiento que sigue siendo contestado y revertido por diferentes países. El movimiento LGBTI ha procurado en la ONU promover su reconocimiento para eliminar la violencia, discriminación e injusticia hacia las personas LGBTI como un colectivo víctima de la opresión sexual en todo el mundo, que no les reconoce sus derechos humanos debido a prejuicios como el heterosexismo.

This chapter presents preliminary findings from a study of the experiences and self-labeling of ten individuals who are biracial and whose parents identify themselves as monoracial members of minority groups. Implications for student affairs educators are shared.

Recommender Systems have emerged to guide users in the task of efficiently browsing/exploring a large product space, helping users to quickly identify interesting products. However, suggestions generated with traditional Recommender Systems usually do not produce diverse results, though it has been argued that diversity is a desirable feature. The study of diversity aware Recommender Systems has become an important research challenge in recent years, drawing inspiration from diversification solutions for Information Retrieval. However, we argue it is not enough to adapt Information Retrieval techniques towards Recommender Systems, as they do not place the necessary importance to factors such as serendipity, novelty and discovery which are imperative to Recommender Systems. In this report, we propose a diversification technique for Recommender Systems that generates a diversified list of results which not only balances the trade-off between quality (in terms of accuracy) and diversit...

ABSTRACT Floriculture is commercial production, marketing and retail sale of cut flowers and potted plants as well as home gardening and flower arrangement. Arunachal Pradesh has started to promote floriculture, especially orchids for export oriented cut-flower industries. The diverse agro-climatic condition provides an ideal opportunity for growth of agro-based industries. Floriculture is one of such industry having great potential in the state. In this paper an attempt has been made to analyze the problems and prospects of floriculture in Arunachal Pradesh with a focus on orchids. A comprehensive survey and interview was conducted for the existing orchid research and development centers to derive suitable conclusions. The study reveals about 550 species of orchids in the state, out of which about 100 species are ornamental belonging to genera Aerides, Ascocentrum

Ce bulletin présente les résultats d’une étude de nature qualitative où différents acteurs locaux de plusieurs arrondissements de Montréal ont été interviewés afin de cerner les enjeux et autres défis auxquels ils doivent faire face pour faire participer des populations immigrantes à différentes activités de loisir. Cette recherche terrain permet notamment de mettre en avant le fait que le loisir apparaît, aux yeux de ces acteurs locaux, comme un véritable vecteur d’intégration pour les populations immigrantes et qu’il est source de cohésion sociale, particulièrement en contexte interculturel.

La scuola, oggi più che mai, deve aprire un dibattito sui "mondi diversi" per avere un visione di insieme del bambino/ragazzo e delle forme in cui si rendono possibili gli apprendimenti in un'ottica di continuità educativa sia orizzontale (tenendo in considerazione la propria storia, coinvolgendo la famiglia e il territorio), sia verticale (assumendo una visione educativa plurale e coerente, che concepisca la crescita e l'educazione del bambino/ragazzo in prospettiva, mettendo quindi in relazione tutti i servizi e le agenzie educative di ogni ordine e grado).

Eleta, P. (2017). Un Piazzale di mondi diversi, In Rivista Bambini, Settembre.

The Indian banking system plays an important role in promoting economic growth, not only by channelling savings towards investment, but also by improving the efficiency of resource allocation. An efficient banking system is considered a necessary prerequisite for growth today. The Companies Act 2013 made it compulsory for the board of a company to have at least one woman director. A modest attempt has been made to investigate the impact of women directors on the Indian bank’s performance using Return on Assets and Return on Equity as performance measures. BSE listed 6 Public sector banks and 6 Private sector banks operating in India are analysed using Panel data. Even though the preliminary results (2019 ) & (2020) conveyed a negative statistical association between female directors and ROA & ROE. The study contributed by pointing out the limitations in the Indian banking sector.

Published as a result of a contributions to a number of international seminars and workshop, this paper gives an overview of conviviality as a critique in response to current issues, a horizon for the future and conclusions for policy and practice of the churches, civil society and governments

The first part of this paper presents a historical outline of how racial and cultural alterity (particularly indigeneity) has been imagined and represented by elites in Colombia since the nineteenth century. The evolution of these ideas takes us to the contemporary category of “ethnic groups” and its representation in positive terms, a process that signifies a substantial change compared to past discourses in favour of cultural homogeneity. The second part of this text reflects on the ways in which ethnic policies are legitimized  –today more than ever– through the principle of “the protection of cultural diversity”, a principle which is widely praised and uncontested, but which has become totally dependent on problematic concepts such as “cultural damage”, “authenticity” or “preservation”. Furthermore, the institutional actions based on that principle are actually uncertain, ambiguous and inefficient, a situation that invites us to question the “policies for diversity”.