Hello Everyone,
The backlash against Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is here. As someone who works full-time making workplaces less exclusive and more fair (and fun!) for everyone, I want to address this challenge head-on.
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Here’s how I explain the need for DEI to my clients (use it to convince your boss). I say
"DEI is not about pointing fingers or making people feel guilty. (It's also not about feel-good lunch talks by trailblazers. Those mean nothing if we're facing disrespects and low pay.)
DEI is a much-needed fix for the unfairness, disrespect, and discrimination that diminish people's contributions + potential (especially those who are under-represented) at work and in the world.
In other words:
We will stop DEI-ing you
when you stop bias-ing us.
Without diversity efforts,
we get 1950’s homogenous groupthink. We get no one challenging authority (Think Harvey Weinstein. Think: ENRON).
Without a focus on equity,
some kinds of people (you know who) get more pay for the same job. And, (the same) some people get a smoother insiders-only path to those higher-paying jobs.
Without inclusion,
you get a low vibe workplace where people log off the second they can so they can finally relax + be themselves. Picture: homogenous powerful cliques and corny country club vibes.
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MYTH
DEI = replacing whites/men with racial/gender minorities.
TRUTHS
DEI = making workplaces work for all, not just a well-connected few.
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Yours in SOLIDARITY,
xoxo,
Femily
Ps. If my elementary explainer has piqued your interest go follow some of my fave DEI thought leaders next, including those far below in my recommendations - - - as well as @desireeadaway @belonglab @jenniferbrownspeaks @leronlbarton @pagedrpage @sistahvegan @johnjohnw4 @dr.alison.cerezo @inclusionwithnadi, Lily Zheng, Lisa Jiménez, Steven Huang, and Sejal Thakkar.
