DEI is the current iteration of affirmative action, that’s all.
The problem with DEI is that it’s an imperfect solution that only came about because racists and other bigots couldn’t behave themselves. Forcing the hiring of specific demographics isn’t going to result in the best possible outcomes in every case but those groups also need opportunities even though they’ve been systemically given worse educations and have been generally shat upon. Removing race we’d also probably hire the white man more often but not because they’re inately better, but rather because they are simply more likely to be able to afford to have pretty looking resumés compared to disadvantaged minorities.
We wouldn’t need DEI in the first fucking place except people like an old boss, who saw an immigrant classmate of mine’s resumé come up and because of his African last name said “no thanks I want to keep jobs in Canada”, need to be forced to do the right thing. They create the problem and throw temper tantrums when we try to fix it. These people are obstacles and it’s getting tiring.
TL;DR: They feel as if they have a point because DEI can result in a more qualified person being turned away, which I get feels unfair. However, they refuse to acknowledge the fact that said person was only more qualified because we make it so difficult for minorities to fucking do anything. I’m getting so sick of right-wing bullshit.
Also, DEI is trying to diversify the points of view in the workplace. Homogeny of thought is NOT better when it comes to problem solving. Varied voices can create amazing solutions to problems one didn’t know really existed. If allowed, it builds creativity.
In my field anyway it’s not about background, it’s shitty managers not listening to anyone and only wanting to hear about how great they are. I am a tall white man and they still don’t wanna here even the littlest bit of polite feedback. I handled them more carefully than children and they still moaned and cried.
Diversity is good, and I do not think my experience is a reason to not care about it, but removing those worthless bosses is the only thing that will actually allow real change to actually happen.
The issue with this is you often end up with a diverse group of people who are all very educated and grew up in upper-middle class or even upper class homes. It’s a diversity of race and gender but with everyone having the same values anyway. I’ve seen it myself being the only person in my workplace who grew up poor, you realize how little the rest of it really matters.
