Surface Level Diversity

A survey that asked managers “What is meant by diversity to decision makers in your organization?” found that they most frequently mentioned race, culture, sex, national origin, age, religion, and regional origin. When managers describe workers this way, they are focusing on surface-level diversity.

Surface-level diversity consists of differences that are immediately observable, typically unchangeable, and easy to measure. In other words, independent observers can usually agree on dimensions of surface-level diversity, such as another person’s age, sex, race/ethnicity, or physical capabilities.

Most people start by using surface-level diversity to categorize or stereotype other people. But those initial categorizations typically give way to deeper impressions formed from knowledge of others’ behaviors and psycho-logical characteristics such as personality and attitudes. When you think of others this way, you are focusing on deep-level diversity.

Deep-level diversity consists of differences that are communicated through verbal and non-verbal behaviors and are learned only through extended interaction with others.