The Value of Diverse Perspectives

Here we are again; DEI is bad, DEI is responsible for everything that’s wrong with society, DEI destroyed the U.S. To anyone who’s uttered any of those statements — DEI is an acronym. It’s not a destructive force — it's not a force at all — it’s not tangible, nor does it hold any power. It's just letters, and they stand for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. DEI is for everyone, and it's based on race, religion, age, gender, sexual preference, income, political leaning, etc. Recently, people in Alabama – a state that doesn’t have a very high GDP — stopped receiving government subsidies that were protecting its citizens from the exorbitant cost of utilities. The states with higher GDPs — like California, New York, and Texas — paid more, so that Alabama could pay less. Many Alabamans voted without taking time to understand they might be cobbling their own paths to poverty. That was equity in the U.S. — those subsidies were DEI.

DEI seeks to ensure that everyone is included, and treated equitably in the workforce, and in the world. Everyone falls under DEI at some point in their life. DEI prevents older workers from being replaced by younger workers, and it enables talented young workers opportunities to go for higher ranking positions. If you are, or become, disabled— you’re included. Veterans are included. Single mothers, single fathers, and caregivers = included. Mental Health conditions = included. It includes people practicing different religions – even Christianity. DEI is for everyone, not just minorities. To be abundantly clear though — DEI doesn’t mean untalented people get placed in positions that are beyond their capabilities — on the contrary, that’s what DEI seeks to prevent.

DEI seems to offer far more benefits than disadvantages. Diversity of staff leads to diversity in thought and practice. Without diversity, we run out of fresh ideas, we lack nuance, and will struggle to expand business reach to new demographics. Some of the large companies that recently dropped DEI initiatives, appear to be businesses that are more likely to operate on a ‘Growth and profit above all else’ model. I’d like to point out, as so many others have been doing recently, that the world is diverse. For the past few years, some citizens have been louder and more vocal with their complaints, so they’ve been catered towards. What happens when corporations cater to a minority group that seeks to exclude all others? What effects will this have on the growth-and-profit-above-all-else model? It’s smart to want to diversify your business, for the same reasons you’d want to diversify an investment portfolio. From a business standpoint, it's really shortsighted, and risky, to put all the eggs into one basket.

Although it seems the more profitable choice, DEI isn't for everyone. I wrote another essay about how DEI efforts can begin to feel almost predatory, when an environment of belonging doesn't already exist. It can create unsafe spaces, and could have a negative impact on someone's mental health. There are areas around the country that will struggle to add diversity, even if they welcome it. People will recognize that, but, if the business is in a diversified area, and the staff isn't diversified, it will be glaringly obvious what's missing. Anyone that doesn't see themselves reflected in a business' employment roster, will be less likely to use the service. Those of us who believe in equity-for-all will also turn our backs.

I’ve thought about moving overseas a number of times over the past few years. When weighing my options on where to relocate, I thought about what I would miss about America, and what I couldn’t live without. There are some cities, restaurants, and specialty shops I'd miss, but I think I could find suitable replacements in a few locations– the only thing I couldn’t find a replacement for was diversity. It doesn’t exist like it does in American cities anywhere else in the world, not to this magnitude. America is a powerhouse because of the diversity of its citizens. If we keep ignoring that, it will be the end of a global phenomenon.