What is Diversity?

Scholars and practitioners have defined the term ‘diversity’ in a variety of ways. While narrow definitions mainly focus on race, gender, religion, etc., broad or expansive definitions tend to look at both visible and non-visible characteristics and differences in individuals. This includes the traditional categories of race and gender, but also, people with disabilities, gender and sexual orientation, and other non-traditional categories such as – diversity of thought.

Examples of broad/expansive definitions extend to age, personal and corporate background, education, function and personality. What unites both the narrow and broad forms of definition is the concept of ‘difference’. Diversity can be defined as the variety of visible and non-visible differences inherent amongst individuals and groups. These social characteristics are amongst the dominant diversity strands protected by law in the majority of countries.