Diversity, equity and inclusivity (DEI) is a term that has gained a lot of popularity and attention in the last few years. Depending on the setting, people often see DEI as something really positive or really negative and there are a lot of different definitions floating around. It's time to answer the question "What's so scary 'bout diversity, equity and inclusivity?"
"Diversity in the natural world, also known as biodiversity, refers to the variety of life on Earth, encompassing genes, species, and ecosystems. It includes all living organisms, their unique characteristics, and the interactions within their environments. Biodiversity is crucial for healthy ecosystems, sustainable food systems, and overall well-being."
- Artificial intelligence on diversity.
This blog post is inspired by the song "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding" written by English singer/songwriter Nick Lowe in 1974 and made famous by Elvis Costello when it appeared on his 1979 album, Armed Forces.
In 2004 PopMatters.com wrote,, opens a new window "'Peace, Love and Understanding' is really the perfect song for the maniacal off-balance world we inhabit. It’s a declaration of confusion, a bid for harmony not out of naivety, but out of the belief that things should be better — it’s just plain to see — and, as Costello says in the liner notes to the recent Rhino reissue of the album, with the obvious notion that 'no one knew the answer to the question that the song posed.'”
"What's so funny about diversity, equity and inclusivity" appears to be as difficult a question to answer as "what's so funny about peace, love and understanding", particularly in a country that utilizes all of these words, among others, when collectively defining itself. To avoid any biases when defining these words, and to get a better understanding of what makes them funny or scary, we'll just let their dictionary definitions define them. We will be using Merriam-Webster as our source.
First, we'll look at peace, love and understanding.
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Peace (noun) 1. a state of tranquility or quiet 2: a state of security or order within a community 3: freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions |
Love (noun) 1: strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties 2: Affection based on admiration, benevolence, or common interests 3: Warm attachment, enthusiasm, or devotion |
Understanding (noun) 1: A mental grasp 2: The power of comprehending 3: The power to make experience intelligible by applying concepts and categories 4: Friendly or harmonious relationship |
Now we'll look at diversity, equity and inclusivity.
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Diversity (noun) 1: the condition of having or being composed of differing elements |
Equity (noun) 1: fairness or justice in the way people are treated |
Inclusivity (noun) 1: The act of including : the state of being included |
With those individual definitions in mind, let's clarify what these three words mean as one concept.
Diversity, equity and inclusivity (noun)
1: A set of values and related policies and practices focused on establishing a group culture of equitable and inclusive treatment and on attracting and retaining a diverse group of participants, including people who have historically been excluded or discriminated against.
Want to learn more about this subject and see examples of DEI in other settings?
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