Equity and Diversity in Sociology: An Australian Perspective (Essay)

This sociology essay analyzes a conversation between two colleagues in Australia to explore concepts of equity and diversity. The essay delves into self-compassion, self-care, cultural humility, and anti-oppressive practices, examining how these concepts manifest in a scenario involving social dif...Read More

Running Head: SOCIOLOGY 0
EQUITY AND DIVERSITY
Australia

SOCIOLOGY 1
The analysis will be based on the conversation between the two colleagues on the basis of a
scenario. The aim of the scenario in this essay will determine the various concepts and its
practicality in the actual life by promoting the concepts of self-compassion and self-care, then
cultural humility and anti-oppressive practices in a negative and a positive form that is
perceived by the society. The interpretation of the conversation is to figure out the social
differences between the individual of a dominant and an individual of a subordinate group to
encourage the aspect of equity in terms of diversity.
The concept of self-compassion is explained in the manner where the person has developed
an ability to deal positively with oneself. It is the situation where the person gives away the
failure and any kind of suffering or insufficiency caused but while accepting it as a challenge
to move further in the right direction (Gerbarg, M.D, Muskin, & Brown, 2017). However, the
people who get motivated from the distress, pain or mistake can have better outcomes in their
lives on every step of the level rather getting demoralized and fall into the wrong conduct.
In relevance to the conversation between Steve and Polly where this term is evaluated in the
incorrect manner because of Polly being lacking in making the self-decision, thinking that she
is somewhere exercising wrongful acts by not getting involved with the family and her
husband and also she is having a feeling of discomfort regarding the manner of living and a
guilt in the mind (Neff & Pommier, 2012). So, in the same way throughout the difficult time
and situations the person still acts in a usual course of action is the ultimate fulfilling the term
of self-compassion.
The other concept refers to self-care that is a very important factor in one’s life to stay
healthy. It is also the way out to keep the other relationships in a well-defined manner where
one can accept the facts in an appropriate manner. If the aim of self-care is accomplished
within an individual with positivity then all the other elements are fulfilled. In any

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circumstance the person should not forget to maintain self-caring as this is the most
significant aspect to feel good and enhances the confidence in one’s own self. Similarly in
respect to the scenario where Polly is expressing the factor of self-care in front of Steve
because of having a different view-point compared with the earlier one (Salloum, Kondrat,
Johnco, & Olson, 2015). It is now focusing on the concept of self-care and self-respect which
is initiating towards the goal of a positive life by taking a stand for her and not restricting to
those things which make her happy. Therefore, it is clearly stating the relevancy where Polly
wants to proceed with a desirable life with full confidence and ignoring the negative effects.
The concept of cultural humility relates to understanding one’s own culture and denying the
other in an adverse manner. It is all dependent on the kind of place the individual is born and
brought up and still accepting the conditions and the culture of other individuals. The term
cultural humility is based on adaptability where one is unwillingly disrespecting the culture
of the other without knowing the actual knowledge (Marcie, Cain, & Martin, 2014).
However, the disgrace to the other religion, culture, norms, and values can affect negatively
the society and its individuals which can create vast differences. Every individual has a
culture that defines the personality of an individual in every aspect of existence.
In considering the situation where Steve is being culturally humiliating towards Polly and
stating that he is based on the Christian identity where the religion does not permit to follow
homosexuality on any basis. So, in this particular situation Steve is raising a form of humility
towards her culture and this will create a cultural distinction between the two and the society.
This created a negative impact on Polly by thinking that it was a wrong decision by revealing
the facts of her personal life (Hook & Davis, 2017).
Another concept to be dealt with in accordance with the situation is based on the anti-
oppressive practices that are not permissible within the society. These practices are

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considered against the norms and belief of the society with being against the law. It has been
recognized that such practices exist in society but makes an effort to diminish them on a wide
scale. There are various groups existing in our society that have a different way of
understanding their lives such as gays and lesbians, then the colour discrimination, issues
arising out of the caste system, etc (Danso, 2014). The injustice and the distress are the
factors that turn out to become the dominance by one group over the other in the negative
manner way. The oppression develops when any person or a group does not have the features
and this creates injustice in the society.
In accordance with the scenario, it is truly stating that Polly has an affair with the same
gender in views of Steve as explained by her and is considered under the category of
homosexuality i.e. known as gay. It is well her choice to live her life the way she desires but
this choice of her is impacting the views of the society and also on Steve (Lawrence, 2016). It
was justified by him towards being stating the conditions of anti-oppressive practices that are
not favoured by his religion.
The social differences are easily identified in terms of Steve and Polly as they both have
different views in relation to each other’s mindset and the cultural differences that are
prevailing amongst them. This is creating a disparity between the two as the way of
perceiving things are so different that they are affecting in their view-points (Chava & Anna,
2016). Both seem to have identical perception when having the entire conversation such as
including the self-care, self-compassion, socially just practice, etc.
The internalized forms of oppression or injustice and domination have been seen in the
context of Steve and Polly because of gender and sexual orientation in society. It is the abuse
of one’s power over the other and establishing unjust practices that severely impact the
society and the individual. The term internalized domination relates to the happening and

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position of those of the dominant group, advantaged and even considered as powerful so such
people are the ones who are showing the bias nature towards the subordinate group like the
same is applicable in the mentioned scenario. Steve is from a member of a dominant group
and stating the adverse and contradictory statements on Polly.
It is further concluded that the conversation is based on different broad concepts that have
been discussed within the scenario. Here, Polly has a very contrasting opinion for her life as
she is thinking on the other side now while compared with the earlier one. If she gives more
priority to her own way of living and having a different family by having a homosexual
relationship and being more precise with caring for herself and being self-compassionate
then, there is no wrong and the society should accept this view of every such individual
without being biased and reduce any sort of inequality. The norms of the society must be
introduced in such manner that does not hinder the society and it shall accept the individual
with being open-minded. Therefore, the elements of the society, its culture, caste system,
practices should be in a diverse form and based on actual equity.

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References
C. F.-N., & A. L.-G. (2016). Social Statistics for a Diverse Society. Thousand Oaks,
California: SAGE Publications, 2016.
Danso, R. (2014). An integrated framework of critical cultural competence and anti-
oppressive practice for social justice social work research. Qualitative Social Work.
Gerbarg, P. L., M.D, Muskin, P. R., & Brown, R. P. (2017). Complementary and Integrative
Treatments in Psychiatric Practice. American Psychiatric Pub, 2017.
Hook, J. N., & Davis, D. E. (2017). Intercultural Communication Core:Theories, Concepts
and Issues. Cultural Humility.
Lawrence, E. (2016). Gender and Trade Unions. Abingdon: Routledge.
M. F.-B., Cain, J. M., & Martin, S. L. (2014). From Mastery to Accountability: Cultural
Humility as an Alternative to Cultural Competence. Social Work Education, 165-181.
Neff, K. D., & Pommier, E. (2012). The Relationship between Self-compassion and Other-
focused Concern among College Undergraduates, Community Adults, and Practicing
Meditators. Self and Identity , 160-176.
Salloum, A., Kondrat, D. C., Johnco, C., & Olson, K. R. (2015). The role of self-care on
compassion satisfaction, burnout and secondary trauma among child welfare workers.
Children and Youth Services Review, 54-61.

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