Kee Soe , ks420@uakron.edu
The Trump administration has made the controversial decision to push private companies to roll back on DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) in keeping with his promise to eradicate private or public diversity. Companies such as Target, Amazon, Walmart, and other popular businesses have followed suit, removing DEI initiatives such as sponsoring parades, ending partnerships, and eliminating programs. However, contrary to these companies include Costco, Apple, Ben and Jerry, and e.l.f Beauty, who are doubling down on this new push to reinforce diversity, equity, and inclusion as Apple states, “that fostering a “culture of belonging” is critical to innovation and success”. Companies who are scaling back on DEI are seeing boycotts from the public who refuse to buy from them in support of keeping it and buying from local markets or allies like Costco or Meijer, as user Helaine Rainier on Afrotech commented, “I am shopping and buying locally. Diversity is an asset in driving innovation”.
But what is DEI? Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is a term used to describe policies and programs that promote the representation and participation of different groups and individuals, including those of different ages, races, ethnicities, genders, disabilities, and religions. So isn’t it a good thing for the removal of this policy to focus on hiring people not based on those factors but instead on their abilities to be a good worker? In actuality, DEI does not mean anyone will hire you just because of your race or age, rather, stop discrimination based on your race or age. If you are a healthy, well-functioning straight white man, this may not be an issue for you but for others who are in marginalized groups, you want DEI implemented to prevent the workforce, for example, not hiring you because you are disabled. Realistically, companies are not going to hire you simply because you are a woman or any other factors considered as DEI and will always look at your qualifications. Further issues of DEI rollbacks not only the removal of programs but also the representation of holidays and celebrations as Google Calendar no longer marks the start of Black History Month, Women’s History Month, or Pride Month. This sets a tone for something scarier as DEI rollbacks become less about policies and programs and instead, remove representation entirely.
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