Affirming Diversity Through Democratic Conversations

This collection of essays and personal reflections is written from a social constructivist perspective and proposes practices that promote democratic conversations regarding diversity by creating opportunities to share personal stories and to listen to other people's stories. It examines policies and practices that can either empower or stifle understanding in different situations and presents stories to serve as catalysts to promote democratic conversations and multicultural understanding in various contexts. Focuses on feminist and micro-interaction issues. Features authentic stories told in the author's own voice which paints a picture that is sometimes challenging, sometimes difficult to hear, but always meant to stimulate conversations with self and others to deconstruct and reconstruct personal notions of diversity. Presents information from a social constructivist view to support the belief that affirming diversity is an ongoing process of evaluating and reconstructing knowledge through social discourse and interactions. Addresses important questions such as "How can we build bridges and connections without being able to talk across differences?" and "How can we affirm diversity when selected views are allowed to be voiced, while others are silenced?" For educators, counselors, and social workers.