BUSINESS RESEARCH YEARBOOK

Abstract

Promoting tolerance has become a key weapon in battling prejudice and bias in multicultural training but has had its meaning hijacked over the last generation. Tolerance has changed from its classical definition as incorporating grudging forbearance and indifference toward others and their beliefs and practices to the neo-classical meaning as suggesting that every individual’s beliefs, values, lifestyle, and truth claims are equally valid and worthy of acceptance. Such change has alienated many who value equality and fairness and may have limited the effectiveness of diversity initiatives because they find the new definition of tolerance to be intolerable. The authors offer authentic tolerance, incorporating respect, dignity, and openness to others, not necessarily their values or beliefs, as an alternative.