diversity (noun) the fact of many different types of things or people being included in something; a range of different things or people

This is how the Cambridge Dictionary summarises the term diversity pragmatically. But behind this word hides a wide range of different attributes, characteristics and traits that make up individuals. These include obvious aspects such as race, gender, age, disability, less obvious aspects such as socio-economic status and sexual orientation, and very elusive things such as values, beliefs, experiences and behaviour. The image of an iceberg is often chosen to visually illustrate these different dimensions. A more structured visualisation of the dimensions can be seen in a model in which the personality is in the centre and the various aspects defining an individual are grouped around it in a circle. Immediately around the centre are the seven core dimensions; the aspects of a person over which one has little or no control (e.g. gender or ethnicity).

The individual dimensions should not be seen as rigidly separate from each other; rather, there are often intersections that can lead to multiple marginalisations and specific discrimination (see intersectionality).

Promoting and living diversity means being aware of and accepting all these dimensions and contributing to make everyone feel welcome and valued and accepted as the persons they are (see belonging).