The backlash against “wokeism” has led a growing number of states to ban D.E.I. programs at public universities. Thousands of emails and other documents reveal the playbook — and grievances — behind one strand of the anti-D.E.I. campaign.
That’s possible (except the cable news thing, I don’t watch that).
My experience with DEI is primarily in the form of PR. I’m skeptical that DEI initiatives change hiring practices. I think it primarily takes the form of reporting, such as listing how many upper level managers are non-white. Which I think is totally harmless. Like you said, I don’t think it’s a big deal at all. But I’m skeptical it achieves much. I think it’s based on unexamined assumptions. Does increasing diversity in leadership meaningfully improve the experience for workers? And is that even the goal, or is increased diversity within board rooms itself the goal? Because if so, that’s kind of shitty goal for anyone who isn’t aspiring to join the 1%.
Mind you, I’m open to having my mind changed if there’s evidence otherwise. But I think some of the examples of benefits of DEI programs I hear don’t sound like new initiatives. Assessing the racial makeup of a an applicant pool, for instance, isn’t a DEI program, as far as I’m aware. I believe that’s an affirmative action program that has been around for decades. Which is good, but I don’t think that’s DEI.
I think this might be a semantic issue. Maybe the stuff I like actually counts as DEI and I just didn’t realize it.
That’s possible (except the cable news thing, I don’t watch that).
My experience with DEI is primarily in the form of PR. I’m skeptical that DEI initiatives change hiring practices. I think it primarily takes the form of reporting, such as listing how many upper level managers are non-white. Which I think is totally harmless. Like you said, I don’t think it’s a big deal at all. But I’m skeptical it achieves much. I think it’s based on unexamined assumptions. Does increasing diversity in leadership meaningfully improve the experience for workers? And is that even the goal, or is increased diversity within board rooms itself the goal? Because if so, that’s kind of shitty goal for anyone who isn’t aspiring to join the 1%.
Mind you, I’m open to having my mind changed if there’s evidence otherwise. But I think some of the examples of benefits of DEI programs I hear don’t sound like new initiatives. Assessing the racial makeup of a an applicant pool, for instance, isn’t a DEI program, as far as I’m aware. I believe that’s an affirmative action program that has been around for decades. Which is good, but I don’t think that’s DEI.
I think this might be a semantic issue. Maybe the stuff I like actually counts as DEI and I just didn’t realize it.