Move is to comply with state law passed by Governor Ron DeSantis that prohibits public funding of DEI programs

Move is to comply with state law passed by Governor Ron DeSantis that prohibits public funding of DEI programs

Archived version: https://archive.ph/2NkY3

  • ArbitraryValue@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    141·
    4 months ago

    Well, it is a rather divisive ideology, simply as a matter of fact.

    Here’s New Jersey, not exactly a Republican stronghold:

    Overall, 42% of employed New Jersey adults considered diversity among their peers “essential,” 29% said it was “important but not essential,” and 28% said “not essential.” While 64% of employed Democrats regarded it as “essential,” only 42% of employed independents and a mere 17% of employed Republicans echoed this sentiment; 52% of Republicans say it is “not important,” compared to 9% of Democrats.

    • rambaroo@lemmynsfw.comEnglish
      51·
      4 months ago

      71% of all adults say DEI is important but your take is that it’s a divisive topic?

      • ArbitraryValue@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        2·
        4 months ago

        I found another poll specifically about DEI programs:

        A majority of workers (56%) say focusing on increasing diversity, equity and inclusion at work is mainly a good thing; 28% say it is neither good nor bad, and 16% say it is a bad thing. Views on this vary along key demographic and partisan lines.

        And a poll specifically about the Florida ban:

        1. Do you support or oppose laws banning diversity, equity, and inclusion programs from colleges and universities?
        • Support 39%
        • Oppose 50%
        • Neither support nor oppose 7%
        • Unsure 4%

        So you do have a point. Apparently even the average Republican doesn’t have strong negative feelings against DEI programs, with only 30% calling them a bad thing. In Florida, opposition to DEI is stronger than average, but even there more people oppose the ban than support it. I would still say that 30% to 40% opposition makes the issue relatively divisive, especially since the opposition is so concentrated in one political party. However, I admit that it apparently isn’t as divisive as I thought it was before going through these polls more carefully.

        (I’m not sure how to reconcile the results of these polls with the way Republicans actually vote.)

        • AstridWipenaugh@lemmy.world
          2·
          4 months ago

          I think the devil is in the details. Most people support DEI as a concept; very few people believe diversity, as a concept, is bad. I’m personally supportive of DEI in general, but I have mixed feelings about it in practice.

          My employer has a pretty broad and active program. They hold informational sessions hosted by the different DEI groups throughout the year. Those sessions provide visibility for the groups, but the content is pretty shallow. I assume it feels good to have those sessions for you if you belong to one of the groups though.

          The actual things the DEI program effects are a mixed bag of results. Women and some racial minority groups have increased representation in the company since the groups were created. That’s good. But if you’re a white cishet male, you’ll never encounter any of our recruiters. Recruiting works with the DEI groups to target their special-interest recruiting events. There aren’t any inclusion groups that allow white cishet males, so we end up not going to any events they’re allowed to attend. Of course, anyone can apply through public channels, but direct recruitment gets priority over web applicants. This effectively means we will only consider a white cishet male if there’s nobody else. This structure would be wildly illegal if it were any other group that was excluded in that way, but instead we see that situation lauded as a good thing.

          I don’t have access to any career coaching or employee support groups because those things are all offered through DEI groups, and I’m not welcome to join any of the groups (I’m only allowed to attend virtual webinars as an ally). There are lots of outside of work team building events as well, but I’m not invited to those either.

          I keep hearing that equity isn’t a zero-sum game, but it sure feels like it is from where I’m sitting. I want to speak up and say I should have access to the same resources and benefits as everyone else instead of being excluded based on my race, gender, and orientation. But DEI programs have taught me that whites, males, and cishets take up too much air in the room and I should always yield to literally anyone else in the name of equity.

          TL;DR DEI feels divisive when there is no inclusion group that includes you