You've likely been hearing a lot more about
DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) in the recent weeks. What you might not realize, is that Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Policies have their roots in the
1960 Civils Rights Movement and more specifically, the
1964 Civil Rights Act.
| We come to knowledge when we come to it. Learning is a lifelong journey.
In future posts I will dig deeper but, for today I want to start with unbiased facts and definitions. In order to have any conversation on this topic, you should be armed with this knowledge.
Diversity:
di·ver·si·ty
1: the condition of having or being composed of differing elements : variety
especially : the inclusion of people of different races, cultures, etc. in a group or organization
Example given: programs intended to promote diversity in schools
2: an instance of being composed of differing elements or qualities : an instance of being diverse; a diversity of opinion
Diverse:
di·verse
1: differing from one another; unlike
Example given: people with diverse interests
2: composed of distinct or unlike elements or qualities
Example given: a diverse population
Equity:
eq·ui·ty ˈ
1a: fairness or justice in the way people are treated
Specifically : freedom from disparities in the way people of different races, genders, etc. are treated
Example given: "… salaries in North America have long been considered a private matter between employer and employee. … But a growing number of advocates say that needs to change, in part to address problems of gender and racial equity, but also to keep talented employees in the workforce."
—Amanda Stephenson
b: something that is equitable; social equities and inequities
Inclusion:
in·clu·sion
1: the act of including : the state of being included
2: the act or practice of including students with disabilities with the general student population
Example given: "Inclusion refers to a variety of integration approaches, but the goal is to blend special education students into the traditional classroom."
—Suevon Lee
3: the act or practice of including and accommodating people who have historically been excluded (as because of their race, gender, sexuality, or ability)
Example given: "Tech workers say they are more interested in diversity and are more willing to work to promote inclusion in their workplace …"
—Jessica Guynn
Accessibility:
ac·ces·si·ble
1a: capable of being reached; a remote region accessible by rail
b: easy to speak to or deal with; a friendly, accessible boss
2: capable of being used or seen : available; information that should be accessible to everyone, The collection is not currently accessible.
3: capable of being understood or appreciated; the author's most accessible stories
4: capable of being influenced : open; people who are accessible to new ideas
5: easily used or accessed by people with disabilities : adapted for use by people with disabilities, accessible bathrooms/doorways/seating/parking
Example given: "Councilwoman Deborah Gross introduced legislation Tuesday that would prioritize accessible entryways, common areas, restrooms and communications facilities—in that order—when city businesses undergo major physical updates."
—Adam Smeltz
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: as a phrase,
Abbreviation: DEI
1: a set of values and related policies and practices focused on establishing a group culture of equitable and inclusive treatment and on attracting and retaining a diverse group of participants, including people who have historically been excluded or discriminated against
This means we practice diversity, equity and inclusion in all we do. It includes investing in our people and creating a culture of care.
"Virtually every university, government agency and major corporation has embraced some type of diversity, equity and inclusion policies … to ostensibly promote a more open, equitable and, well, inclusive workplace."—Orange County (California) Register
2: the state of having a diverse group of participants as well as policies and norms that are equitable and inclusive
"Whether within a company or in the community, achieving diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is a journey and a job that is far from done." —David M. Velazquez and Laron Evans
Here is what I want you to take away from this article:
I believe we can all agree on the following:
People are good
People are smart
You are people
I also believe the first step in having a fair and balanced conversation is being armed with facts. Does this seem like an over simplification of diversity, equity, inclusion and the policies companies began creating to ensure their workforce was balanced? Yes. It absolutely is. There is much more to the story here and I am going to arm you with all of the
facts so when you read a new story or engage in a conversation on the topic, you feel educated and comfortable to discuss your thoughts and opinions.
My next post will be real life examples of language used that added confusion to a conversation about written policies that can be plainly understood.
