Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is an ethos that recognizes the value of diverse voices and emphasizes inclusivity and employee well-being. In recent years, DEI programs have gained traction in both corporate and academic settings as a means of promoting a more equitable society. However, these efforts have not gone unchallenged.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion programs have come under attack in boardrooms, state legislatures, and college campuses across the country. Critics argue that these initiatives are unnecessary or even harmful, perpetuating a sense of victimhood among marginalized groups. Co. is the latest company to change its policies in response to ultraconservative backlash, showing that such campaigns against corporations' diversity and inclusion efforts can have real-world consequences.
The ACLU is already looking at how to challenge a future Trump administration's efforts to dismantle DEI programs. This highlights the political nature of DEI work and the need for ongoing advocacy to protect these programs from being dismantled. An inside look at a revolution in retreat: when and where our collective attention faded, the corporations and well-meaning practitioners who championed DEI initiatives found themselves fighting an uphill battle against powerful forces seeking to undermine their progress.