DEI is Not Dead
Unless you’ve been living under a rock these past couple of weeks (which, fair enough, if you have given the state of the world) you may be wondering if DEI is in fact now dead. And the reality is, a lot of DEI programs and jobs south of the border have been gutted, along with international aid and government “waste”. The practice of applying a slash and burn approach to complex social systems is not new, but it is really hard to watch, especially when you understand the actual complexity and ripple effect of the impacts. A lot of people have already been harmed by this approach and more will follow.
For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong.
H. L. Mencken
What does this have to do with DEI? The reality is DEI is not perfect, nor has it ever been. Just like any other change initiative, DEI has led to some really positive outcomes, and when not done well, it’s done some damage. We have to hear that and take the appropriate steps to make it better. But it doesn’t mean DEI itself is the problem.
In fact, it’s not a “problem” at all. Diversity is simply a fact, equality is embedded in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and the business case for inclusive cultures and leadership teams is well-researched and irrefutable. How we do DEI work needs to be ever evolving, but it’s not going anywhere.
DEI isn’t dying, it’s growing up. The practice is maturing after a huge explosion over the past 8 or so years. When something accelerates that fast we need time to catch up, to assess what works and what doesn’t and to make the practice more effective, and yes, more mature.
Just like we can forgive our former selves for decisions we made, or forgive our parents for having done the best they could with what they had, we can forgive the practice of DEI for having been imperfect, just like everything else.
Don’t lose hope. So many of us are still here, we’re still doing the work, and we still care deeply about workplace cultures where all people belong and thrive. We’re not going anywhere.
– Belinda & the WLI Team