How often do you read books, listen to music or podcasts or watch movies which expose you to different views and cultures?
Experiencing different cultures
In the UK, only 1% of candidates for GCSE English Literature in 2019 answered a question on a novel by an author of colour (Penguin Random House, 2020).
This statistic shows that even in early education we are not exposed to different cultures.
However, when we expose ourselves to books, music and movies that have different views and cultures, it helps us become more familiar with people's differences and experiences and that can replace judgement with understanding.
Here are some benefits of doing this:
- You begin to celebrate differences
- It encourages discussions about people's cultures and views that are different to your own
- It helps you understand the barriers and challenges people face because of their differences
- It helps to debunk stereotypes
- You learn to respect people's differences and cultures.