The Problem With Diversity

As youth from every quarter striving to balance both goodness and knowledge, we Exonians find ourselves at a cornerstone of values that revolve heavily around efforts to foster diversity. Pronounced in these two of the Academy’s most clear-cut goals, emphasizing multiculturalism has taken a subconscious hold on almost every aspect of our lives at Exeter.In some ways, diversity is absolutely necessary in cultivating a generation of people who are aware of the world beyond their respective personal bubbles; such a task is an essential part of the Exeter ideal and our non-sibi mission. Diversity at Exeter, however, has become almost entirely associated with race, and the constant marketing of diversity to the student body at Exeter has certain, largely unmentioned detriments. Such an uptight obsession can and does influence students to create stereotypes based on race that did not previously exist. Yes, when issues arise, acknowledgment is the first step, but near the potential benefits of discussion lies a delicate threshold where talk of race begins to construct and inscribe its own problems.Many students will first encounter the phenomenon that we shall dub “racial hyperawareness” here at Exeter. It is unlikely that most students previoiusly contemplated race as often as they’ll begin to at PEA. True, the transition to Exeter and young adulthood requires and benefits from curiosity, knowledge and awareness, but lines between healthy recognition and over-obsession should be considered, especially by the Academy, which wields significant influence on students’ ideas about social norms.The intentions of highlighting diversity at Exeter are good; they are to cultivate a community of citizens who are aware that there are people out there with different ideas, cultures and upbringings, something that is absolutely crucial to society. The trouble arises when these good intentions morph into a marketing monster that begins to spoon-feed students this very racial hyperawareness that is actually detrimental to the goal of diversity. Some of the Academy’s programs and policies, such as the fly-in revisit program, actually create stereotypes about students of different races. Such programs are undoubtedly antithetical to the ideals of diversity.Exonians also contribute to the perpetuation of stereotypes when we toss around jokes like “all day students are white,” or “all Asians have hot pots.” There is no problem on the surface, as it seems we say them in full humor. The truth, however, is that these quick jokes and their consequent gut reactions expose a distinct level of our raw, unfiltered thoughts. Because these reflect our initial responses to a given, heat-of-the-moment situation, they offer perspective into the concepts of nature vs. pre-Exeter nurture vs. Exeter nurture. There is a cycle in which older students make these comments, then younger students catch on; as a result, comments of this nature are normalized and perpetuated within our community. The foundations of these ideas may exist before students come to Exeter, but the ideas tend to become pervasive only after students have spent time on campus.In some ways, racial stereotyping is unavoidable. In fact, for many students, their individual identities are tied to their racial identities, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Our race does play a part in how we define ourselves, and because of that there are some stereotypes that will always exist. These stereotypes, however, should not reach the ubiquity and degree that they have at Exeter, and because they have, Exonians must understand and remain especially conscious of tendencies to make these assumptions in order to reverse them. The PEA community is designed to shape us into well-informed individuals that combine goodness and knowledge in our endeavors. Exeter has tried to do this through an emphasis on diversity and multiculturalism, but the effects of this emphasis have included a breeding of racial hyperawareness and subconscious racism that the community needs to confront.