Understanding Human Differences:Multicultural Education for a Diverse America

Understanding Human Differences: Multicultural Education for a Diverse America, is an incredibly useful tool for helping students develop conceptual understanding about complex and emotionally-charged issues of diversity in today's world. The authors use clear examples, lucid language, and engaging activities to involve students in thinking through fundamental ideas that ground their understanding of diversity. This is an innovative approach to teaching diversity that challenges students' misconceptions, perceptions, and assumptions with interactive exercises and discussion exercises. In reading and engaging in controversial issues, students are challenged to think about implications from research and to draw conclusions on their own, rather than feeling like they are being subjected to opinions to which they must agree because of “political correctness.”
The content is grounded in interdisciplinary studies from behavioral and social sciences including psychology, sociology, education, biology, history, and anthropology. Each chapter is presented in an inquiry format, consisting of questions within the narrative followed by discussion activities and exercises that relate to the topics and issues raised. There are a variety of activities so instructors can select which ones they think will be most effective with their students.

“Written with wisdom, clarity, compassion, and a deep moral commitment to building multicultural democracy. This tremendously engaging and thoughtful book will provoke thinking and needed dialogue.”
Christine Sleeter, California State University Monterey Bay

“Koppelman and Goodhart probe the many facets of diversity and examine how society makes the lives of many difficult through racism, classim, sexism, ableism, and homophobia... An extraordinarily useful book for all concerned with building a truly democratic multiracial America.”
Joe R. Feagin, Graduate Research Professor, University of Florida and author of The Many Costs of Racism (Rowman & Littlefield, 2003).

List of contents

Foreword.
I. INDIVIDUAL ATTITUDES AND INTERPERSONAL RELATIONS.
 1. Understanding Ourselves and Others: Clarifying Values and Language.
 2. Communication, Conflict and Conflict Resolution.
 3. Understanding Prejudice and its Causes.
 4. Learning the Language of Prejudice.
II. CULTURAL FOUNDATIONS OF OPPRESSION IN THE UNITED STATES.
 5. The Roots of Oppression: The Subjugation of Native Americans.
 6. Nativism: The Paradox of Xenophobia in a Nation of Immigrants.
 7. Religious Diversity: The Struggle for Religious Freedom.
 8. Rejecting Oppressive Relationships: The Logic of Cultural Pluralism for a Diverse Society.
III. CONTEMPORARY DILEMMAS FOR INTERGROUP RELATIONS.
 9. Racism: Confronting a Legacy of White Domination in America.
10. Sexism: Where the Personal Becomes Political.
11. Heterosexism: Transforming Homosexuality from Deviant to Different.
12. Classism: Myths and Misperceptions about Poverty.
13. Ableism: Disability Does Not Mean Inability.
IV. THE CHALLENGE OF DIVERSITY IN AMERICAN INSTITUTIONS.
14. Pluralism in Schools: The Promise of Multicultural Education.
15. Pluralism in Society: Creating Unity in a Diverse America.
Afterword: The Challenge of Diversity for Individual Americans.
Appendix A: A Human Relations Student Attitude Inventory.

Summary

The content of this text is grounded in interdisciplinary research from the behavioral and social sciences including education, psychology, sociology, biology, history, and anthropology.
After a brief introduction, each chapter consists of leading questions and responses based on interdisciplinary research and author expertise. Through this inquiry format, the authors encourage students to discuss and debate topics, thereby promoting a deeper understanding of the issues addressed within each chapter.
In the chapters examining issues stemming from race, gender, social class, sexual orientation and disability, stereotypes, myths and misconceptions are confronted. Students are challenged to reconsider their perceptions of individuals if their perceptions are based on such stereotypes and misconceptions.

Product details

• Authors: R. Lee Goodhart, Kent L. Koppelman
• Publisher: Pearson Academic
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 01.01.2004
• EAN: 9780205408429
• ISBN: 978-0-205-40842-9
• No. of pages: 384
• Weight: 630 g
• Series: Allyn & Bacon; Allyn & Bacon