In the UK, there is an estimate of 270 nationalities and 300 languages. Even this is only part of the story as within these figures are hundreds of sub-groups and identities. With an imperfect knowledge and understanding of diverse groups in our societies, a degree of stereotyping is often inevitable. While membership of a particular group confers a set of characteristics, like behaviors and tastes, to individuals outside that group there is a perceived sameness that is not recognized by members of that group. Individuals can choose to embrace that group identity or they can, to some extent, re-invent themselves by adopting a new set of characteristics and behaviors. How would you describe the diverse nature of the society in which you live? What are the dominant groups and how are they stereotyped? Consider the smaller groups and the factors that distinguish them.

What is the general and stereotypical view of them? How do you think these views actually differ from reality? Are there distinctive reasons for groups to either retain or lose their distinctiveness, what are the reasons for this?