Diversity refers to everything that makes a difference within a group, be it physical, organizational, psychological or behavioral characteristics. The term diversity refers to the difference or the distinction between people, animals or things, to the variety, infinity or abundance of different things, dissimilarity, disparity or multiplicity. In the context of a community, for example, we find that there are different types of diversities: cultural, sexual or biological, among the most recurrent.
What is diversity
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The term comes from the Latin diversitas, whose meaning refers to something varied, the abundance of things and even people with different origins or characteristics. Diversity can be applied in many cases, a clear example of this is reflected in living beings, since there are so many living organisms on earth that scientists called the subject a biodiversity.
But you can also refer to a diversity of gender, diversity of families and even Spanish-speaking diversity. Multiplicity has many forms or types and they will be explained extensively in the next section.
Types of diversity
When it comes to the multiplicity of objects, people or things in general, it should be noted that there are different types, some associated with biodiversity and others that are adapted to cultural issues, sex, religion, etc. Each one has specific characteristics and it is necessary to know them to have a clear definition.
Biological Diversity
It is about the great variety of living organisms, plants and animals that exist on planet earth, although it can also be about the adaptations made by the environment, the genetic variation in which life begins to develop and the interaction or evolution of living beings.
- Species diversity: this aspect is based on evaluating the number of living species found in a given habitat, but it also reflects the number of different species that occur in a specific ecosystem, that is, country or region.
Until now, it is not known exactly how many species exist as there are more and more new areas with unknown species in the world, so it has been proven that the multiplicity of species has only been studied in a small part. A valid example for this aspect is the mention of all the types of animals that exist on earth, from dogs and cats to crocodiles, sharks and whales.
- Ecological diversity: also known as the diversity of ecosystems or as the biological communities that exist in a certain area. It is about the variation in the response of the species to environmental changes. This type of variation is based on the multitude of ecosystems that make life on earth and their interaction.
It is important to note that there are some ecosystems whose extension prevails according to a specific type of climate, for example, temperature spectra and species of animals or plants, which is why it is difficult to establish a particular ecosystem.
- Genetic diversity: includes the variety in the genes of a given species, which can be inherited between populations or groups of species. The genetic variation that each species has allows them to adapt to changes or characteristics of their environment.
The change occurs in chromosomes, in which mutations or recombinations are made that tend to give better or worse adaptation characteristics for subsequent generations. Genetic variations contribute to the ability of ecological systems to recover from environmental changes, be they short or medium long climatic changes.
The fundamental basis of genetic variations is the evolution and adaptation of the wild population to new local conditions that the environment may generate, as well as the development of the different species of animals, the variety of cultivated species that have been produced. under significant benefits to humanity.
An example of this is the great variety of animals that exist belonging to the same species, such as different types of snakes, bears or turtles.
Respect for diversity is everyone's problem, because every time tests or practices of different kinds are carried out, they are harmful to the environment and have an impact on me for the proper sustenance of natural resources. But in addition to biological diversity and its aspects, there are other types of diversity, including:
Linguistic diversity
Variations are also manifested in linguistics because there are different dialects, accents and languages throughout the world. This diversity occurs thanks to the migration of groups of a specific population. For example, the dialect of Spain is not the same as that of Colombia or the United States, there is a linguistic variation in those regions.
Sexual diversity
It is about gender diversity, which is linked to the variations that exist between a person's sexual orientation and the desire of other subjects to interact sexually with others.
In this multiplicity, there are three main aspects for sexual inclinations, the first is heterosexuality, which is based on the attraction to people of the opposite sex, the next is homosexuality, which refers to people who are attracted by subjects of the same sex and, lastly, bisexuality, which is an attraction directed at both men and women.
Cultural diversity
It is about a coexistence or relationship between the different cultures that exist in the world. It refers to the variation and interaction of the different cultures that may exist in a region and that, in turn, coexist with the rest of the world, for example, Egyptian, Muslim, etc.
Functional diversity
This is a phenomenon, fact or characteristic of all the individuals who make life in a society to refer to the fact that each person has certain capacities. Functional diversity is managed so that there are no discrimination or exclusions for being different, for example, having an intellectual or physical handicap, having limitations, etc.
Currently, there are different terms with negative connotations, which is why functional diversity was created, to make it clear that each person has different capacities and that it should not be discriminated against.
Social diversity
It is nothing more than the union of the peoples that are in the same society and that have their own customs, religion, language, skin tone, traditions, clothing and gastronomy. Here it is implied that, even if you live on the same planet, there are infinities of localities that have special characteristics.
Importance of diversity
Many people see this variation as something abstract and based on how abundant the world is in terms of species, people, attitudes, sexuality, tastes and religions and this is really what diversity is all about.
The lack of similarities is implicit in everything that surrounds the human being, it is something notorious, that is latent since before modernization and that must be accepted, since that is where the importance of variations and multiplicity of elements lies.
Ideas about diversity have been applied in so many branches of human knowledge that it is difficult to adapt to a refusal by a small number of the world's population. Science is a field in which variations are part of the daily bread, it is a definitive forcefulness, it is what gives life to science.
Ecology and biology reveal the five kingdoms of living beings, which are manifested in animals, plants, protists, monkeys and fungi and explain their interactions, which allow the variety of biomes and ecosystems that make up the biosphere.
But variations are also presented in the social sciences as a cultural multiplicity, one of the most important values for humanity. Attention to diversity has made national states and even non-governmental entities see variations as a common heritage for humanity, which is why more and more international treaties and norms are emerging that promote the promotion and acceptance of cultures. minorities in the world, including linguistic and functional variations, thus admitting the marked differences between some subjects with intellectual or physical disabilities.
Some writers refer to the distinctions between ideological realities, making it evident that variations are considered as a real engine to increase the possibility of an independent life for people with vastly different capacities according to the various aspects that are presented daily in everyone's life.
It is because, when referring to diversity, it is necessary to extend the idea to all areas of human activity, since its importance lies in understanding that there are differences between people and other living organisms, which are all part of current reality and that they deserve to be heard, understood and taken into account.
How to encourage diversity
To promote diversity in the world, it is necessary for people to educate themselves, to know that there are people with different abilities, with totally different orientations and tastes, that there are aspects beyond the traditional and that must be accepted.
The diversity is so wide that it would be selfish to focus only on one aspect. You have to learn to tolerate and that is achieved by studying, reading, learning about everything that happens on the planet and, most importantly, respecting others, their decisions and personal tastes.
