Diversity and Inclusion

The Peace Corps seeks to reflect the rich diversity of the U.S. and bring diverse perspectives and solutions to development issues in the countries we serve. For the Peace Corps, diversity is a collection of individual attributes that together help the agency pursue organizational objectives efficiently and effectively. These include national origin, language, race, color, disability, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic status, veteran status, and family structures. Diversity also encompasses where people are from, where they have lived, and their differences of thought and life experiences.

We also seek to create inclusion—a culture that connects each staff and Volunteers to the organization; encourages collaboration, flexibility, and fairness; and leverages diversity throughout the organization so that all individuals are able to participate and contribute to their full potential—throughout the Volunteer and staff lifecycle.

Diversity and Inclusion at Your Site

Once Volunteers arrive at their sites, diversity and inclusion principles remain the same but take on a different shape, in which your host community may share a common culture and you—the Volunteer—are the outsider. You may be in the minority, if not the sole American like you, at your site. You will begin to notice diversity in perspectives, ethnicity, age, depth of conversation, and degree of support you may receive—and may need to make adjustments. During pre-service training, a session will be held to discuss diversity and inclusion and how you can transcend differences, find common ground, and serve as an ally for your peers.

Cross-Cultural Considerations

The Peace Corps emphasizes professional behavior and cross-cultural sensitivity among Volunteers and within their communities to help integration and achieve successful service. As a Volunteer and representative of the United States, you are responsible both for sharing the diversity of U.S. culture (yours and other Americans’) with your host country national counterparts, and also for learning from your host country’s diversity. 

To ease the transition to life in your host country, you may need to make some temporary, yet fundamental, compromises in how you present yourself as an American and as an individual, and will need to develop techniques and personal strategies for coping with these limitations. During pre-service training, staff will provide training on how to adapt personal choices and behavior to be respectful of the host country culture, and will be available for ongoing support. 

What Might a Volunteer Face?

Gender Roles

It will be important to absorb and to attempt to understand the cultural nuances of gender roles in your host country. During pre-service training, you will receive an introduction to gender awareness in-country, and will take time to examine your own thinking about gender roles and how they have impacted you. You’ll then learn to analyze development projects using a gender lens to better understand gender roles in your host country and how these gender roles can benefit or limit what females and males may or may not do—both from a personal standpoint and in relation to work and relationships in-country.

The roles that women play and the skills that women have in Senegal are quite different from those of American women in general. Most often, the work responsibilities of female Volunteers in Senegal are different from the roles of traditional Senegalese women. Further, the attitudes and actions of some Senegalese men, partly because of how American women have been portrayed in films and the general media, may be quite offensive to an American woman. Sometimes, the way women dress or carry themselves send signals of “availability.” Sometimes it seems as though a woman has to constantly prove, especially to Senegalese women, that she is a real woman. For example, a female Volunteer explained that she felt she had to spend hours pounding grain or going to the well to transport water just to prove to the women of her village that she could “cut the mustard” like a real woman. At other times, a woman may need to prove, especially to men, that she is a respectable woman. Acceptable behavior and dress are very important means that will help a woman attain the level of respect she desires. These and other issues for women will be discussed during training and strategies on how to maintain your own sense of self and be culturally sensitive will be explored.

Possible Issues for Volunteers of Color

Because of limited exposure, some foreign nationals will expect all U.S. citizens to be white, and are unaware of diversity in the U.S. For Volunteers, the range of responses to their skin color may vary greatly: from being mistaken for a host country national to being questioned about their U.S. citizenship, to facing behavior and language skill expectations or ridicule, to being able to get better prices for goods and services. These instances can be turned into teachable moments for the Volunteer and the host country national. All Volunteers, including white Volunteers and those of color, should be mindful of the issues of race/ethnicity that are embedded in U.S. culture and within your country of service, and should be mindful of being an ally to your fellow Volunteers.

African-American Volunteers often are expected to master languages and adapt culturally more quickly than other Volunteers. They sometimes may be mistaken for a host country national and some Senegalese may not readily excuse or accommodate their lack of understanding or “correctness.” It also may more difficult for Senegalese to associate Asian Americans, Arab Americans or Hispanic Americans as being truly American. There may be stereotypes that Senegalese associate with these groups on the basis of the person’s perceived ancestral origin rather than his or her nationality. This added difficulty can be moderated if one views it not as an offense, but as a lack of understanding and accepts the challenge to teach Senegalese more about the diversity of the American population and the wonderful contributions that accrue from the differences in its composition. Volunteers of color sometimes may feel a sense of isolation within the Volunteer community, because some Americans, too, may not have been educated about diversity or experienced diversity in their home communities. Again, this can be an opportunity for these Volunteers to interact with, and help expand, their fellow Volunteers’ understanding of American diversity.

Possible Issues for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning/Queer, Ally (LGBTQA) Volunteers

The Peace Corps actively supports Volunteers and staff of all genders and sexual orientations, and encourages Volunteers to serve as allies to their fellow Volunteers in all aspects. Many countries where the Peace Corps serves have more restrictive cultures with regard to sexual orientation and non-conforming gender identities, though some are more permissive. In every country, Peace Corps staff will work with Volunteers to provide them with locally informed perspectives. Some LGBTQ Volunteers have chosen to come out to community members, with a result of positive and negative reactions, while some have come out only to select Peace Corps staff and Volunteers. Many have chosen to be discreet about their orientation and/or gender identity within their host community. LGBTQA support groups may be available in-country, providing a network to support the needs of the Peace Corps LGBTQA community. More information about serving as an LGBTQ Volunteer is available at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Peace Corps Alumni website at lgbrpcv.org. 

Note on LGBTQ Service Specific to Senegal:  LGBTQ Volunteers are welcomed within the Peace Corps Volunteer and staff community in Senegal, and many LGBTQ Volunteers have served here successfully. It is important, however, that applicants review State Department cautions for LGBTQ travelers and be aware that culturally, LGBTQ individuals are often not accepted and discriminated against by Senegalese communities. Due to safety and security concerns, LGBTQ Volunteers are advised not to serve openly in this country. We recognize the challenges that having to “hide” may cause for you as an LGBTQ person; thus we are committed as Peace Corps staff to do our best to support you amidst these challenges.

Possible Issues for Volunteers with Disabilities

Peace Corps staff will work with disabled Volunteers to support them in training, housing, jobsites, or other areas to enable them to serve safely and effectively. 

There is no city in Senegal, including the capital, and few buildings, that has facilities to accommodate the needs of individuals with physical handicaps, blindness or mobilityimpairment. Though Senegalese are very accepting of people with disabilities, many of the accommodations one is accustomed to in the United States are absent here. Thus, everyday life would be difficult for people who depend on such conveniences.

Possible Issues for Volunteer Couples

Couples often face pressure from host country nationals to change their roles to conform better with traditional relationships in-country. Host country nationals will often not understand American relationship dynamics and may be outwardly critical of relationships that do not adhere to traditional gender roles. It is also helpful to think about how pressures to conform to local culture can be challenging to men and women in very different ways. Considering how your partner is being affected and discussing what, if any, aspects of your relationship should be changed can help reduce stress for you both.

Possible Religious Issues for Volunteers

Senegal is more than 90 percent Muslim, the rest of the population being Christian or Animist. There is considerable religious tolerance in this country. Occasionally you may find a friend who encourages you to explore or convert to Islam. Generally, there is very little knowledge of religions other than Islam and Christianity and, to a lesser extent, Judaism.

Possible Issues for 50+ Volunteers

Older Volunteers may find their age an asset in-country and will often have access to individuals and insights that are not available to younger Volunteers. But, pre-service training can be particularly stressful for older trainees, whose lifelong learning styles and habits may or may not lend themselves to the techniques used. A 50+ individual may be the only older person in a group of Volunteers and initially may not feel part of the group. Some 50+ Volunteers may find it difficult to adapt to a lack of structure and clarity in their role after having worked for many years in a very structured and demanding job. More than younger Volunteers, older Volunteers may have challenges in maintaining lifelong friendships and may want to consider assigning power of attorney to someone in the States to deal with financial matters.