Do Our Differences Always Divide Us?

Do Our Differences Always Divide Us?

In his famous essay “Politics and the English Language,” George Orwell explores why finding the right words to convey an idea is so difficult. Language, he writes, is “full of bad habits.” Looking at passages from various pamphlets and newspapers, Orwell finds that all five excerpts share two common mistakes:

“The first is staleness of imagery; the other is lack of precision. The writer either has a meaning and cannot express it, or he inadvertently says something else, or he is almost indifferent as to whether his words mean anything or not.”

How often do we lack precision in our spoken and written words – at home, at school, or at work? Are we thoughtful about the words we use? Do our words really have meaning?

Orwell’s essay came to mind recently during a discussion with my colleagues about Books@Work’s impact in diversity & inclusion. Our Operations Manager Capria Jaussen shared an insight: “Books@Work celebrates difference and eradicates division.”

Mel Bochner, Language Is Not Transparent, 1999, [Fair Use] via WikiArt.org

I’ve been mulling over Capria’s observation in the weeks since, and I find myself stunned by how precise it is. The diversity & inclusion sphere is filled with buzzwords – words that, through repetitive or flippant use, become trite or lose all meaning. Leaders commonly use the words “difference” and “division” when talking about inclusive workplace cultures. But over time, people have come to assume that these ideas exist in a causal relationship: Difference begets division. Our differences divide us. What I love about Capria’s statement is how carefully it treats both words, in the process challenging our assumptions about what exactly they mean.

All too often, workplaces view difference as a prerequisite to division, and it makes sense. It can be isolating and exhausting to be confronted with our differences. But at Books@Work, we see difference for its potential to provoke meaningful connection rather than its potential to divide.

When participants gather to discuss a literary narrative, they naturally share and explore their own narratives. The text acts as both a catalyst and a safety valve; it introduces topics that could very well expose fissures among the group, but it allows participants to approach them in an indirect and respectful way. Difference becomes the meat of a conversation.

Books@Work helped me not to be so narrow-minded and broaden my focus,” one participant said. “I think it’s important to see the benefit of being more open-minded about the different issues.” Another participant in the same group commented that Books@Work made her acknowledge and learn to understand the unique perspective that each person brings to the table. “I just feel like it’s really important in terms of pulling people together and figuring out how you can have conversation about topics that people have different beliefs on,” she said. “You might not agree, but you raise the level of understanding.” Exploring our differences may cause disagreement, but it also provides an opportunity to learn why we each hold the beliefs we do. You don’t have to agree with someone to truly know, understand and appreciate where they are coming from.

Difference within a workforce is inevitable and exists in unlimited ways: in race, gender, taste, thought, politics, working style, education level, income level and more. But we should not fall into old ways of language and thinking – into our “bad habits,” as Orwell would say – and assume that difference equals division. Side-stepping or silencing diverse perspectives only leads to an organization in which people feel like they don’t belong. At Books@Work, celebrating difference is key to eradicating division. And when we break down barriers, we build up workplaces.

Image: Childe Hassam, Over the Great Divide, 1908, [Public Domain] via WikiArt.org

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Maredith Sheridan

Maredith Sheridan

Maredith Sheridan is a Development Communications Associate at the Cleveland Orchestra and a part-time member of the Books@Work team. She continues to write posts for our blog.