The virtual community: Redefining diversity, creating a global society
By: Reabetswe Mabine
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to not only change the way we interact, but also how we see diversity and inclusion. Growing up Xhosa and Sotho, I was constantly confronted with situations in which I had to choose one culture over the other, or switch languages to avoid questions, such as: “How come you have a Sotho name but speak fluent Xhosa?” or comments such as: “Just speak English, you are confusing us.” Trips to the Eastern Cape would be my worst nightmare, because there was always that one aunt who would say: “Yiza apha wena m’Sotho!” which means: “Come here, you Sotho girl!”
For most of my life, there was confusion about my multicultural family, until I came across the profile of a person on social media whose parents were from different racial and cultural groups. This person’s page was full of comedy videos about her experiences growing up as a mixed child in a backward society. This gave me solace – no, in fact – it brought me a sense of belonging.
Social media affects our interactions as people from diverse backgrounds and beliefs. Because of this, we must first define what diversity and inclusion are. Diversity is a range of human differences, including but not limited to, age, race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, social class, political and religious beliefs. Inclusion, on the other hand, is involvement in empowerment, where the work and dignity of all people are recognised. An inclusive system sustains a sense of belonging, and it practises respect for the differences and beliefs of all people. Diversity is what you see, and inclusion is what you do. Diversity does not contradict inclusion, but change happens at the intersection of the two; this intersection is facilitated by the virtual space of social media.
Diversity and inclusion are important aspects of every society, but what does diversity mean in this 21st century? The anti-racial movements such as Black Lives Matter have shown us that the concept of diversity is not only cultural but is rapidly changing. Social media is a powerful tool to provide a platform where affected groups can speak out. Gender roles are not what they used to be; men cook and stay home, while women make most of the household income. The Native American community is speaking out about their struggles in adapting peacefully to American society due to stereotypical labels, such as ‘Red Indians’.
Social media has allowed us to create inclusive spaces. This has created an opportunity for us to learn about other people’s differences in a safe space, while at the same time educating us. It has also allowed us to have universal codes and themes that are understood by everyone, irrespective of age, gender, ethnicity, and social class.
Virtually, we are creating a global society, a space in which we can all belong by redefining and challenging the definitions of diversity.