DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) is a set of programs and initiatives that have been implemented in our school and workplaces over the past few years. The topic has recently been brought to people’s attention because of a promise President Donald Trump has made to get rid of the DEI initiatives. This issues has of course created division and debates among Republicans and Democrats on whether or not removing this program is the right thing to do. There are many people who are both for and against this policy but as with any policy implemented by Trump there is no discussion of compromise. However, before we can determine whether or not this program is beneficial in schools and the workplace we first need to know what it is and what the implementation entails.

The DEI program implemented today is a more advanced version of the 1964 Civil Rights Movement. The Civil Rights Movement of 1964 was designed to discourage discrimination by not allowing companies to hires their workers based on sex, color, race, or religion. Since times have changed since then the DEI program focuses on more than just race and goes beyond the workplace. DEI, which stands for diversity, equity, and inclusion. Diversity refers to the different cultures and backgrounds of people, equity refers to everyone having the same opportunities, and inclusion refers to making sure the environment is accepting of everyone. DEI also focuses on the LGTBQ and transgender community as well as race.

DEI in the Workplace

DEI initiatives and programs have been implemented in schools and the workplace. The purpose of of the program in the workplace is to supposed to ensure that everyone, no matter sex or race, has an equal chance and opportunity to succeed. Employees are expected to take classes that teach how to create an environment that makes everyone feel accepted. Teachers are also taking the same classes and have the same expectations. When I first looked at this program and heard what it is about I thought it was a good thing. These are problems that we shouldn’t be facing today and is a problem that needs to be fixed. However, the more I looked into how the DEI initiative was being implemented in our schools and workplace the more I disagreed with the program. In my opinion it is creating the same problem it claimed to be getting rid of.

The first problem I have with this initiative is that schools and jobs are expected to enroll or hire a set number of minorities, transgenders, or members of the LGBTQ. Equal rights means giving the same opportunity to everyone based on their performance and work ethic. By doing this they are essentially saying they are going to favor a certain group of people not based on their performance but because of their orientation or culture. Everyone should have an equal opportunity and it should be based on their performance. The fact that a job application has the question of race and sex means it is being considered. These questions shouldn’t even be on the applications. Acceptance should be based on how well they are can do and their pay and promotions should have the same basis.

This program implemented in the workplace will give the effect of forcing employers to hire based on race or sex instead of on merit. I understand that this program was designed to help ensure that the workplace has a diverse environment with a welcoming culture. However, I also believe that this program is in direct contrast to ensuring equal opportunity to everyone, regardless of race or sex. Forcing employers to hire employees to ensure a certain amount of diversity exists in the workplace is in fact hiring based on race or sex instead of merit. Equal opportunity means that everyone should have the same opportunities for employment or advancement based on how well they perform their job. By doing this employees are going to start to wonder whether or not a co-worker received a promotion because they are a better fit for the position or because a certain diversity threshold was needed to be met. Companies can have classes on the type of culture and environment that should be in the workplace but the problem that exists now will still be there, whether or not a job or position was obtained because they earned it or because of their race or sex.

This will have a direct impact on the morale of the employees within a company. It restricts a company from first looking at the qualifications a person has for the job and feeling pressured into hiring someone who they may not feel was the best fit. This is exactly how people feel now except now it is a requirement of the company. Diversity can still exist in the workplace without pressuring a company to follow a certain standard. The only way to truly have equal opportunity is for a company to primarily look at a person’s qualification and choose the best candidate for the job. Race or sex should not even be in the discussion for whether or not they receive the job. I have always wondered why these questions are on job applications. One of my problems with this program is it is basically giving the message that there is not enough diversity of qualified people so they have to force a company to do it. It sends the wrong message and I know I am not the only one who feels that way. Diversity exists in the workforce and hiring based on qualifications will create diversity in the workplace and make employees feel like every job was earned.

DEI in our Schools

The program in our schools creates a whole different set of problems. The first problem I have is how schools have changed curriculum to ensure that there are classes being taught that focus on DEI. The job of public schools is to give our kids an education and prepare them for college. Schools should ensure that a welcoming culture exists and all students feel safe and comfortable and are treated the same way. Classes surrounding DEI however are essentially making students have the opposite feeling. Many of these classes focus on telling students how they should act and single out certain groups, giving the feeling that not everyone is being treated the same way. Our schools should observe and enforce everyone is being treated equally and fairly but a students behavior and belief system should be taught by their parents. Singling students out and telling them how they should act around certain people will create that uncomfortable environment and make students feel that everyone is not being treated the same. Parents are meant to raise their children and schools are meant to teach. If a student does not behave appropriately than the school should contact their parents and to discuss the situation and determine the best course of action or consequences there should be.

By singling out certain groups of people and telling students how they act around these groups will not make a student feel comfortable in their environment. Classes should not be taught that focus on a certain group of people. What I don’t understand about this program is that I act the same around everyone, no matter their race, sex, or religion. When I talk to someone that is not what I pay attention to and it doesn’t change who that person is. If students want to feel like everyone is treated the same then they should act the same around everyone no matter who they are. These classes are basically telling kids that they need to act a different way around certain groups of people or make them feel a certain way. Why should this matter and why are schools the ones telling this to the kids? This program is singling out certain groups of people, saying that everyone should be treated equally yet focusing on certain groups of people. It is a contradiction and I believe is causing more harm than good.

Conclusion

These programs create a few problems for me and I believe these problems are doing more harm than good. The only way to treat everyone equally is to treat the same, no matter who they are or what they believe. These programs are creating a culture that tells people how they should act or feel. They are singling people out and telling us that we need to act a certain way around this group of people and another way around a different group of people. People should be treated based on the person they are, not their looks or beliefs. Values are something that should be taught to us by our parents and if a person is brought up having values we don’t agree with then that is their right, they just need to stay away from me. Our society is creating an environment where nobody will know who a person truly is because we are being told to act a certain way.

By doing this I think we are creating the type of culture that we are trying to do away with. We are telling people that certain people should have certain privileges because of the way they look or their beliefs. We are being told to hire people based on their looks and beliefs, or they can attend college ahead of someone who may be more deserving because of the way they look or their beliefs. These have been issues that our country has been dealing with for a long time. Recently, however, transgender rights have created another group of people where we are being told how we should act or feel. Many people were against transgenders playing in women’s sports but we were told we should be okay with it. Just because a person doesn’t agree with this doesn’t mean they are anti-transgender.

The biggest problem I have with these policies is that if people don’t act or feel they way we are being told we should than they are a racist, or sexist, or anti-transgender and this is not true. I am against transgenders in women’s sports yet I have no problems with transgenders. A person can be whoever they want to be. These programs are creating a society of division and singling out certain groups of people. It is making people feel they are more important or their rights matter more than everyone else’s. People are going to be who they are and if you don’t agree with a person’s beliefs then don’t talk to them. The only way to make everyone feel equal is if we start treating everyone equally.