Support Diversity “Without awareness and knowledge of gender, race, culture, and ethnicity, therapists and other helping professionals may unwittingly engage in cultural oppression (A. Dunklin, Ph.D. , personal communication, October 2009). Dr. Dunklin is correct in his statement. Having survived the destruction of the Third Reich, the civil rights movement of the 1960s, and the women's movement of the 1970s, it is difficult to understand why the need for diversity still needs to be discussed, except that as a society, we are infants when dealing with issues of diversity. There have only been one or two generations since World War II and the banning of segregation in the 1960s (Sciame-Giesecke, Roden, & Parkison, 2009). During this period, society has faced enormous sorrow and suffering over the past seven decades due to discrimination due to religion, hair color, gender, disability, weight, color skin (or lack thereof), sexual preferences, ethnicity. heritage, etc. These problems remain obstacles to community cohesion. Neighborhoods, schools, churches, and the world of science and psychology provide examples of the extent of discrimination that persists. It is impossible not to engage in cultural oppression to some extent. Working in an intercultural situation could be likened to working in a multilingual situation; unintentional oppression approaches zero as “fluency” in the other language or culture is acquired (Dr. K. Seaman, personal communication, October 16, 2009). What is crucial to successfully gaining “mastery” of diversity is to constantly subject ourselves to self-examination to improve our interactions with everyone we come into contact with, in order to reduce...... middle of paper.. ....on the face. In honor, symbols and war (pp. 139-163). Michigan: University of Michigan. Pomeroy, A. (2008). A passion for diversity. HRMagazine, 53(3), 48-49. Sciame-Giesecke, S., Roden, D. and Parkison, K. (2009). Infusing Diversity into the Curriculum: What Are Faculty Members Actually Doing?. Journal of Diversity in Higher Education, 2, 156-165.Staff (June 8, 2009). Marva Collins: A teacher first, last and always. The daily message point. Retrieved from http://vincereardon.wordpress.com/2009/06/08/marva-collins-a-teacher-first-last-and-always/Staff (October 14, 2009). Report: China's super-rich rank just behind US. ChinaDaily.com. Retrieved October 14, 2009 from http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2009-10/13/content_8787558.htmSue, DW (2004). Whiteness and ethnocentric monoculturalism: Making the “invisible” visible. American psychologist, November, 761-769.