The prerogative to respect diversity, often said to "begin with biodiversity" of non-human life, is basic to some 20th-century studies, such as cultural ecology, Queer studies, and anthropological linguistics.
In various forms it is promoted by many political movements, most notably feminism, gay rights, green politics and the anti-globalization movement. However it means somewhat different things in each of these. To some, diversity means bio-diversity and the existence of several distinct races and cultures. To others, diversity means the mixing and reunification of races and cultures into one, as per the melting pot idea.
Prescriptions to respect (non-biological) diversity are common in:
- community-based economics, i.e. no one policy for all regions, especially all ecoregions
- diversity training that is designed to encourage people to be aware of how different people perceive the world and how an awareness of this can enhance efficiency of an organisation
- consensus decision making support
Read more about Respect Diversity: Criticism, Green Politics and Diversity
Famous quotes containing the words respect and/or diversity:
“Law never made men a whit more just; and, by means of their respect for it, even the well-disposed are daily made the agents of injustice.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“... city areas with flourishing diversity sprout strange and unpredictable uses and peculiar scenes. But this is not a drawback of diversity. This is the point ... of it.”
—Jane Jacobs (b. 1916)