Ahhh, diversity

[Magical Realist]

As I'm completing my applications, I'm finding quite a few have prompts such as below:

Stanford University regards the diversity of its graduate student body as an important factor in serving the educational mission of the university. We encourage you to share unique, personally important, and/or challenging factors in your background, such as work and life experiences, special interests, culture, socioeconomic status, the quality of your early educational environment, gender, sexual orientation, race or ethnicity. Please discuss how such factors would contribute to the diversity of the entering class, and hence to the experience of your Stanford classmates.

[This particular application allows a 700 character limit for your answer]

I'm of many minds on how to approach this (and similar questions). I'm afraid it's a bit of a "gotcha" question (as Sarah Palin might say). Perhaps I'm being hyper paranoid, but I feel like if I answer with something about my lesbian identity, for example, that would point to me as being over-simplistic about identity in general. That being said, I have had some unique experiences as a result of my queerness. But also, I sense that potentially (for a number of reasons I won't get into here), those identifying as queer may be over-represented in literature and the likes, so maybe that might not be such a valuable contribution to my application anyhow.

I also considered writing a bit about my current career, as I've been out of undergrad for over half a decade, and I'm currently working in social work (but applying for comparative literature). I think this perspective (in terms of working with a truly diverse population sociopolitical economically, culturally, etc) brings a richness to my perspective, and I don't think previous careers in child welfare are particularly common amongst comparativists. However, given my interest in postcolonialism, I think there's some concern in regards to sounding exploitative.

I'm somewhat tempted to leave it blank, but of course, that looks lazy.

Has anyone else wrestled with a similar dilemma whilst filling out applications? What was your experience/course of action?

[Another Crazy Poet]

I'm sorry honey I haven't come across this yet but I also haven't looked at actual apps yet. Just focusing on making the most concrete SOP I can imagine right now. But I do appreciate you bringing this up and I have no answer for you except to say I'm also queer and trying to figure out how to best word all my experiences whether they have anything to do with me being queer or not. At the same time be honest, let others see it before you submit it, and keep asking what these means for you.

Good luck

[EsMussSein17]

I've had the same questions about my own diversity statements. Basically, I have three options: cultural diversity (I'm of an underrepresented ethnicity), social diversity (I have a close relationship with drug addicts) and economic diversity (I grew up poor and have to work through school). My diversity statement touches on all of these (which was a feat for Stanford's 700 character limit), but focuses on economics, as this seemed to be the element that most interested my professors/recommenders. One professor, also the grad director of the department (English), said that he always looks for students who have left the university and worked for several years because (1) most of the grad applicants he gets haven't and (2) those who have are always the better students (in his opinion). He also said that students who have worked through school show real dedication and seriousness.

This is a long way of saying that I think you should focus on your work experience in your diversity statement. It's more likely to set you apart since, like you said, those identifying as queer might be over or at least fairly represented in your field. I also don't think you will come off as sounding exploitative. The fact that you are sensitive to it gives me confidence in that.

[Magical Realist]

Thank you all for your thoughtful responses.

Since posting this, I traveled back "home" to my undergraduate institution to speak with a few professors. The DGS did mention the work experience more generally as a definite strength and something that should be touched on, both in terms of undergraduate part-time jobs and post-undergrad employment. Her perspective, which I offer for anyone who can use it, is that many institutions (particularly coastal schools) are too attuned to the economic realities [of those of us who were raised and schooled in the midwest, though I think this applies for anyone with an economic hardship], and ergo may be more impressed once they are made aware.

And also, EsMussSein17, touching on all of that in 700 characters or less is no less than a feat of verbal gymnastics. Brava:).

[GradHooting]

The way I will be tackling the diversity statement will be relating to how many different colleges I've been a student at, and seeing a large variety of different students, with different educational needs (as a tutor). I suppose that tackles social diversity, in a way. Economic-wise, I'm just a white middle class dude, so I can't see that helping much.

[BattyBoy]

a paradox of sorts. they want you to shout out how awesome you are...but if you do exactly that, you're no longer awesome 

[pachel]

I've had the same questions regarding "diversity statements" on applications as I identify as bisexual but don't want to fall victim to a "gotcha" question or act like I have a chip on my shoulder. I'm applying for a neuroscience program though - would people's responses to this question be any different if it wasn't in the literature field?

[fishasaurus]

Pachel, I've noticed that compared to social sciences and the arts, science and engineering is very straight. I would say that being a sexual minority in science is a lot harder than in other fields. I happen to be queer as well, and it's been really hard for me because I don't feel like I can be open to my peers and still be taken seriously. I have a friend who has had questions about his orientation come up in his lab (it started as a joke but then took a sinister turn), and even though he's straight, just having rumors about him being gay has been enough for his peers to completely shun and ignore him.

 

The trick to answering these diversity statements is you need to turn it around and say how your special flavor of diversity will make the school/department a better place. One thing you can mention is there will be undergrads struggling because they are coming to terms with their minority sexual orientation, and by supporting these students as a TA and/or mentor, you will help them be better students. 

[andromache]

I have a similar question in regards to these personal history/diversity statements--do you all think it's okay to bring up my bisexuality in these, and then tie it to my interest in Gender and Sexuality Studies within the Literature field? I was thinking something along the lines of furthering the study of bisexuality in literature, as it's something that has been largely ignored in the history of literary studies (characters usually being interpreted as secretly gay or entirely straight, for example). Or is tying my personal info to my academic interests in such a way frowned upon?

[socioholic]

I have to write one of these too and i have no idea how i add to diversity, lol.