As the US closes its first week with their new President in post, we cannot ignore the ramifications for the rest of the world. Yes, all the executive orders are US based but it would be naïve to think that this won’t affect communities worldwide. One only had to look at the guest list at the presidential inauguration and the number of tech billionaires in Capitol Hall to see that. And unless you are managing an entirely tech-free life, their decisions affect you.
It is 2025 and you would be forgiven for thinking that we are now living in a dystopian era where tech moguls fund and influence politics, where women still don’t have body autonomy and vulnerable communities are marginalised even further and disenfranchised.
History has taught us that lack of knowledge and understanding of others can breed xenophobic, homophobic or transphobic sentiments. The less we know about people, the more likely we are to be afraid of others. Politicians weaponising and exploiting this fear of ‘others’ is not new. The rhetoric about the need to protect a country’s land, assets, culture is not new. It is facile and akin to propaganda. And of course, when we are afraid, we do not think rationally or critically. We have seen it all play out before.
What we are witnessing is the deliberate and systematic dismantling of years of equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) progress. And it is heartbreaking. We need healthy debate and nuanced discussion in any topic related to EDI. To achieve the best possible solutions and outcomes for vulnerable groups, there must be a range of perspectives and opinions, compromise and learning.
We must be alive to and wary of the politicisation and polarisation of EDI. EDI isn’t about politics, it is about people. And people are complex. They are not one thing or the other. They do not fit neatly into boxes. We are just getting to understand the many layers which form people’s identity, gender, sexuality, culture. Negating these identities for political clout is incredibly damaging to individuals and entire communities who have had to fight for basic rights. Large companies ‘scaling back’ their commitment to EDI is nothing short of shameful.
Ultimately, it is about values: do we believe that everyone should have the right to live their life free of discrimination? Are we committed to a fair and equitable society? Do we want to create spaces where people feel safe and like they belong? Do we want to be on the right side of history?
If so, we must remain committed to EDI work. If these are your values as an individual or as an organisation, then EDI work is a non-negotiable. At BSA Group and IELA, we aim to practise what we preach. We often refer to being an advocate for EDI as simply being a decent person and it has never been more crucial to be a decent person.
Five things we can all do:
- Call it out: report and block hate speech
- Actively seek and listen to minoritized communities and voices
- Develop and encourage critical thinking by accessing a range of news sources
- Use algorithms for good by amplifying positive voices and messages
- Educate: invest in training, resources, membership of organisations which align with your values.