The Impact of Diversity Characteristics
On Individual Behavior
Individuals deal with diversity on a daily basis. This diversity can effect how an individual behaves within the workplace organization. Workplace diversity is defined as the presence of individual human characteristics that make people different from one another (Hunt, J.G., Osborn, R.N., & Schermerhorn, J.R., 2005, p. 88). Diversity and demographic characteristics are what make each individual different. Although diversity is not a bad characteristic in an organization, these aspects can affect how employees behave as individuals. This essay will discuss four diversity and demographic characteristics and the impact that they have on individual behavior pertaining to the workplace. "Demographic characteristics are the background characteristics that help shape what a person becomes" (Hunt, J.G., Osborn, R.N., & Schermerhorn, J.R., 2005, p. 89). An individual cannot escape their demographic background. These characteristics must be dealt with in the business setting. The four aspects of diversity and demographic characteristics that will be discussed in this essay are gender, age, religion, and occupation. Each one of these has an impact on an individual's behavior at any given time while in the organization.
Gender
Gender is a demographic characteristic of special interest, which is covered by the laws governing equal employment opportunity. Within an organization, gender can have an effect on how the individual behaves in the workplace. Studies on working women show that job performance and ability are not affected by gender (Hunt, J.G., Osborn, R.N., & Schermerhorn, J.R., 2005, p. 89). Although job performance may not be affected, behavioral differences can be noted among male and ...