We all make friends with those that we are similar to, and those with experiences that we can relate to. We often create a friend group that has minimal diversity.
Think about it, your friends are most likely to come from very similar backgrounds as you. One may wonder, “What’s the problem with that? These people are the ones that have lived my story and hence understand me well.” The problem is the fact that these homogeneous friend groups reinforce the very socio-economic backgrounds that we are trying to overcome. As the younger generation, we can undo discrimination by building bridges with those that may be different from us. To make an active effort to overcome these barriers, we have to promote the diffusion of ideas and friendships through them.
The people you regularly interact with play a large role in creating one’s experiences, biases and opinions. They have a substantial impact on one’s attitude towards others and how open they are to new ideas. When we do not have real relationships with those of a certain background, our perception of them is coloured by the media we consume (such as movies and tv shows). These depictions may not always be accurate and may lead us to make generalisations about them. This in turn creates harmful stereotypes that contribute to the socio-economic divides that surround us.
Diverse friend groups can expose one to someone else’s truth; and this may not be our truth. For example, someone who has never been excluded because of gender may find it difficult to believe in the idea of gender bias. However, having friends who have been left out of certain activities because of their gender not only exposes one to their truth, but also causes one to empathize with them.
Having friends from different socio-economic backgrounds exposes one to a variety of cultures. This can be in the form of clothes, food and traditions. Having a close relationship with someone very different causes one to open their minds to new ideas and be less critical of things unknown. Cultural diffusion is a critical aspect of overcoming socio-economic barriers, and it also adds much value to our friendships. Think about it in comparison to food. Any recipe with only salt will taste bland. But once you add a variety of spices, the food tastes much better. Similarly, in life, the more we share these “spices,” the more enriching our relationships will be.
Diverse friends give you diverse opinions. Our friends teach us a lot about maintaining relationships and how to treat other people. If you only have one community in a friend group, then you will have a very limited understanding of what it means to manage relationships. For example, if you need advice about academics but your friends are all sportspeople, the advice you receive will not be effective. However, if you have friends interested in various fields, the advice you receive will be beneficial.
Ultimately, we must be open to new friendships and ideas. We need to examine our biases and think about why we view other communities in a certain way. Once we learn to appreciate new cultures and social backgrounds, we can overcome the socio-economic barriers around us. When we step into the real world, we have to be a part of very diverse teams. Oftentimes, we may also have to lead these teams. To be better leaders and team members, we must exhibit qualities like empathy, kindness and genuineness, and these are the very qualities stem from diverse friendships.
Samaa is 17 years old and studies in the Bombay International School. She is passionate about politics, social activism, dance and guitar.