What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of diversity, equity, and inclusion? Does it involve acknowledging different perspectives or ensuring a sense of belonging within an organization? Is it policies, training, or other business practices required within schools and businesses?
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is a broad term that encompasses different policies and programs, creating organizations where everyone feels welcome and can thrive regardless of their identity, origin, or personal differences. As future business and political leaders, students must understand DEI practices to become active and positive society leaders.
Effective education on DEI practices can be achieved through a variety of methods.
Listening
Listening is one of the most powerful skills both within the professional and societal realms. Different podcasts, such as Untapped and Diversity Deep Dive, educate young adults about viable strategies to use when encountering inequalities and how to make workplaces more equitable. Oftentimes, podcasts also include interviews with pivotal DEI advocates and social leaders to describe and promote societal change. Available through most audio streaming platforms, new social change and DEI podcasts are being added every day. Though these options are typical among young adults, simply listening to a colleague’s unique experiences within the DEI realm can also educate young adults.
Reading
Students can also be educated on diversity, equity, and inclusion by reading. Whether it be a short blog post about another student’s encounter with discrimination at their local college or university to an esteemed novel deeply engaged in an issue of racial or ethnic diversity, reading allows students to further their knowledge of different societal issues and learn from those different from them. Novels such as Blind Spot and Inclusify describe different unconscious biases and teamwork strategies to further promote DEI within our everyday lives.
Watching
Watching various films, shows, and documentaries also serves as a great way to educate the upcoming generation on diversity, equity, and inclusion. The recent rise in popularity of documentaries among teenagers and young adults allows a solid background for students to learn about these acts. Common TV shows, like Netflix’s Sex Education, also showcase the challenges other students face when trying to overcome gender misconceptions and their implications within modern-day cultures.
DEI Trainings
From an institutional level, students can be educated on diversity, equity, and inclusion through DEI training offered at their schools or workplaces. Even the most basic and entry-level jobs require some form of DEI training during the onboarding process or throughout the year to reinforce social change and equality throughout the organization. These trainings are essential for students, as developing inclusive habits from a young age will greatly promote inclusivity and equality across generations.
Now that we’ve gone through four different ways to learn about diversity, equity, and inclusion, how will you educate yourself on DEI? How will you help to make a difference within society?
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