RESPECT

FOR DIFFERENCE

 

 

Respect for Difference is the third component of the Street Smarts model and is about recognising why someone may hold a particular point of view. It is also about critically reviewing your own point of view with respect to the perspectives of others.

Respect for Difference is about recognising and respecting that everyone can have very different views about the same topic. Respecting differences helps us realise that opposing views can also hold the same logical strength and reasoning as our own.

Respect for difference is the ability to appreciate that others might have good reasons to hold different views (example: a balanced omnivorous diet with humane farming conditions is environmentally sustainable and morally defensible). 
It is important to identify that there are many factors that can cause someone to form a particular point of view including their gender, ethnicity, religion, personal experiences and the views of those around them. All of these factors contribute to a person’s perspective about a topic.
To understand Respect for Difference in greater detail, watch the video examples below.

In this video example we see Billy, Shun and Mary video chatting about their school project, until Mary brings up that her parents are getting a divorce. Mary looks to her friends to share their experiences and offer words of advice to her, who both offer different perspectives to the topic.

DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE

Billy

“Isn’t parking here without a disabled pass likely to land you a higher fine than the cost of paying for parking?”  

Billy believes persistence and determination may be what Mary’s parents need. 

Shun

“Isn’t parking here without a disabled pass likely to land you a higher fine than the cost of paying for parking?”  

She shares that her parents were always fighting when they were together which caused her a great deal of distress. She mentions that due to her parents’ divorce, everyone ended up much happier in the end.
From this video, we can appreciate that Billy and Shun are both on opposite sides of the issue in terms of their perspectives. We all have a different history, come from different upbringings, are influenced by the belief systems of those around us and have different personal experiences. These are all significant contributing factors which form our perspectives about different issues. It is important to respect these differences and aim to understand and identify why others may have a perspective which differs from our own.

Talking

is Listening

too

 “Batman sucks”

 “Iron Man is just a spoilt rich kid”

 “Iron Man is a genius who invented technology to go toe-to-toe-“

e see this again in multiple scenes throughout the video, seen as both students speaking over each other, trying to state as many points as possible, without giving respect to the views of the opposing student and listening to what they have to say.

Because of this, the reasoning stated behind each student’s perspective is weak. We hear one of the students say “Everything about Iron Man is cooler than Batman” to which the other student states the counterargument “Everything about Batman is cooler than Iron Man.” Due to the barrier of listening to each other, trying to understand each other’s perspectives and where they may have come from (upbringing, personal experiences, viewpoints of those around them etc.), they are not able to communicate in a way that is meaningful.

We see a third student step in between to educate them on a very important point:

Talking is Listening, too.

It is important to take a moment to pause and process what the other person is saying, in order to respond to each other’s points in a meaningful way. This enables us to have a meaningful conversation instead of continuing to make additional points that support our point of view, without listening to those with an opposing view. It is important to consider why someone may have a particular point of view (considering the factors listed above) so that you can reply to their points, whilst respecting the difference in perspectives.

ACtivities

Complete the following activities from the topic selected in the Respect for Self component in the Street Smarts model. Alternatively, you can choose to select a topic from the list of topics.

A printable version of this activity can be found in student resources.

On your own

  • Write down who would have a counter argument to your groups’ final argument.

Questions

  • Why would this person or group of people hold a different view from your group?

  • Whose interests would be served by the issue. Consider money, fame, power, influence, publicity, influencer etc.

  • Whose interests could be harmed by the issue.  Consider jobs, health, mental health, money, bad publicity etc.

  • Who holds the most power with regards to the issue?

  • Who holds the least power?

  • Why do these power differences exist with regards to the issue? 

Collaboratively

  • You can video record or audio record your responses and ideas to share with a group. 

Questions for the group

  • Whose argument was the most convincing?
  • Which evidence presented should we check?
  • What is the best source for checking this evidence?
  • Is one person in the group closer to a solid argument or should we combine arguments?

Collectively

  • Each person shares their idea or ideas of counter arguments to your groups’ final argument.

  • Discuss these counter arguments as a group.

OBSTACLES TO RESPECT FOR DIFFERENCE

The following are obstacles which hinder our ability to think critically and logically. They particularly affect the Respect for Difference component of the Street Smarts model.

A

Unconscious Bias

Reflection

QUIZ

Describe what the Respect for Difference component of the Street Smarts model is about.

Respect for Difference is about recognising and respecting that everyone can have very different views about the same topic.

True/False: Our opinions and perspectives are formed by factors such as gender, ethnicity, religion, personal experiences and the belief systems of those around us.

True.

These contributing factors play a significant role in forming our beliefs and perspectives about a particular topic. 

True/False: It is important to state all our points in a discussion as quickly as possible without listening to the views of others, as they could disagree with us.

False.

Listening is talking too. It is important to listen to what the other person has to say, even if they disagree with us, so that we can reply to their viewpoint in a meaningful way. 

True/False: If someone has a viewpoint different to our own, this means they are wrong.

False.

It is important to accept that people will have perspectives which may be completely opposite to our own. In these situations, it is important to think about why someone may have this perspective and the factors which influence their viewpoint. Often, there is no right or wrong to particular topics and opposing views can also hold the same logical strength and reasoning as our own.

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