Why everyone should stop using the word diversity, or at least only use it in the right context

DIVERSITY

When you think of the word diversity you think of all types of skin colours other than white, right? Or you think of all types of bodies other than tall and skinny, right? And most often these two go together, right?

There are a lot of people walking around on this earth, working at big corporations, that think the word diversity is really necessary to apply on all their marketing communication agendas. It is hot, boiling hot, and it has been hot for a while now.

Well, let me highlight something for you:

The word diversity indicates that having a different skin colour other than white is diverse. The actual point is that being a person of colour is normal. There is nothing diverse about having another skin colour than white. It is, let me say it again, normal.

By using the term ‘diversity’ you unconsciously accept the point of view of the majority.

Arooj Aftab, the founder of #donewithdiversity campaign and advocate for underrepresented people in a variety of roles, not just stereotypical representation, formulates it clearly:

“The word diversity has become a tokenized buzzword that has boxed all other bodies away from the norm, failing to be inclusive.”

To help you understand the necessity of replacing the word Diversity in your vocabulary Aftab has some really great and understandable visuals that really helped me, so I hope it also helps you:

Aftab also lays focus on including marginalized groups that are still often overlooked, for example, people with disabilities, the lgbtq+ community. Aftab takes an intersectional approach. To know more about intersectionality you can listen to The new vocabulary podcast here.

Fact is that people being done with the word diversity is not something new. A few years ago Ava DuVernay and Oprah Winfrey stopped using the word diversity.

Nonetheless, it is still highly important to address this topic nowadays and actively change your vocabulary. It is about changing the way you think, it is an unlearning process for you, me, and the people around us.

Aftab suggests that you can use the word inclusion or representation as an alternative. The word inclusion literally means ‘to make part of a whole’. Aftab says that representation matters because “the importance of representation will allow communities to be heard and push for positive change. Stop letting culturally inexperienced people speak for communities they lack knowledge about”.

I would like to add to this that you also could use HUGs, which stands for historically underrepresented groups or persons. This term does not hold the direct negative association with the term ‘minority’. The term does lay focus on the history of a certain group or person and therefore is an intersectional term that can offer an interconnected nature of the approach to the specific social categorization of the group or person addressed.

If you have any questions please let me know through the comments and I am happy to chat.