Dear Men Offended By DEI: Just Say You Can't Compete
Go ahead. Say the quiet part out loud.
Did anyone notice the uptick in hate rhetoric from GOP voters regarding DEI policies? As a queer person, I sure as hell did. For those not in the know, DEI stands for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion—measures meant to help give disadvantaged people an equal chance at a great career.
For the most part, DEI is a popular set of policies because it makes finding, getting, and staying at work easy for everyone. No one likes to feel like they’re not included or that the chips are stacked against them.
I am technically a DEI case. I’m queer, though I’m married to my husband. I also have two hidden disabilities: a devastating photosensitivity issue that bars me from long-term outdoor work and crippling C-PTSD. I absolutely need special accommodations at work.
Thankfully, most of them are attainable by me working from home.
DEI is linked to better outcomes for workers across the board, according to Pew Research. It’s not just about happy workers. DEI measures are more likely to boost profitability by attracting more talent, per BCG.
Despite this, Republicans are ratcheting up their vitriol against it. More specifically, it seems to be a specific subset of people who puff the most smoke about it: right-wing, white, cisgender men.