West Meets East: 2 Students talk Cultural Diversity

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Ila B.

Ila B. is a Year 11 student at Dulwich College Beijing. Originally from the UK, she has lived in multiple countries across the world and has been in Beijing since 2017. She is a keen writer and an Arsenal fan.

What does cultural diversity mean to you?

Cultural diversity is quite important to me because I know from experience that it is very alienating to be the odd one out. It’s also especially important in order to achieve an all-inclusive environment.

How much importance does your school give to diversity? Is it enough?

In my opinion, my school does not give much importance to diversity. It is not something that is discussed a lot or given a platform, it is mostly taken as a given that everyone feels comfortable with the diversity at the school, which is often not the case.

Have you personally witnessed or experienced cultural insensitivity during your time in Beijing?

I have a close friend and we are the only two Indians in our year; we are regularly mistaken for each other and asked by teachers and students if we are sisters. However, we do not even look similar at all, the only likeness being our ethnicity.

Do you think Beijing’s international school curricula put enough emphasis on cultural diversity? Why or why not?

I don’t think that Beijing’s international school curricula puts any emphasis on cultural diversity as it is not something that is talked about often enough by teachers or students. This is part of the problem, and I definitely think the topic of diversity needs to be taught to us, especially at a younger age.

Beijing is increasingly diverse. Do you think locals are appreciative of that?

I can’t say for sure if they’re appreciative, but from my experience, I think that Beijing locals are pretty unfazed by the increasingly diverse state of Beijing. Some people look strangely at me, but I don’t think I have faced any outright racism or even alienation.

Is being culturally diverse the new normal in contemporary society? Why or why not?

Of course, it depends on which part of the world you’re in, but having said that, I think it is, because due to globalization and increased travel and immigration from different countries, you would be hard-pressed to find a city that is completely homogenous.

What are your thoughts on tokenism in cultural diversity?

I think that token cultural diversity can be very harmful, particularly because it creates the illusion that change is being made regarding diversity when it isn’t. When you are just including diversity in your school, TV show, movie, or community, to tick boxes rather than making those spaces more inclusive, this does not help you or minorities.

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Audrey W.

Audrey W. is a Year 11 student at Dulwich College Beijing. She was born in Hong Kong, but has lived in Beijing for her whole life. She likes to spend her free time practicing her guzheng and playing sports.

What does cultural diversity mean to you?

To me, cultural diversity is the existence of a variety of cultural or ethnic groups within a society. I think that it is important because we can learn from one another and understand different perspectives within our world. It also may help to dispel negative stereotypes and personal biases people may have about different groups.

How much importance does your school give to diversity? Is it enough?

I have been at my school for 13 years now and I think that they do give a lot of importance to diversity. During our time at Junior School, we had many lessons about different religions, and I think that it was very important that we learned about it from a young age because it taught us to accept people of different cultures.

Have you personally witnessed or experienced cultural insensitivity during your time in Beijing?

I haven’t experienced any cultural insensitivity in Beijing, and it may be because most of the population has the same ethnicity and culture as I do. On the other hand, when I visit the US, some people make racist assumptions about Chinese people.

Do you think Beijing’s international school curricula put enough emphasis on cultural diversity? Why or why not?

I think that international schools in Beijing teach students how to be more accepting of everyone. However, I think that their curriculums could introduce the history of different races and cultures to help students understand why it is important to not make race-based comments. Even though international school curricula are becoming increasingly diverse, there is definitely more work to be done.

Beijing is increasingly diverse. Do you think locals are appreciative of that?

I think they are because it means that they can learn different languages and cultures which wouldn’t have been easy if the state wasn’t diverse. Many Beijing locals want to learn English and it is easier for them to learn it when they are around other people that are speaking English. I’m not sure if they prefer the state that Beijing is currently in, but I don’t see outright dislike.

Is being culturally diverse the new normal in contemporary society? Why or why not?

This may differ depending on the city. For example, Beijing and Shanghai may be more used to a culturally diverse population than rural cities. This is because bigger cities may have more foreign people living there. However, I do think that now, compared to the past, society is starting to embrace multiculturalism.

What are your thoughts on tokenism in cultural diversity?

I don’t know much about this topic, and I feel like that’s part of the problem. When organizations, companies, or even schools use tokenism as performative measures, this adds to the problem of a lack of inclusivity, and I don’t think many people realize that.

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Photos: Courtesy of Ila B and Audrey W

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