From the course: Individual Accountability for Equity and Inclusion

What is DEI?

- DEI, you have likely heard this term bounced around but what does it actually mean? DEI stands for diversity, equity and inclusion. While these terms are related, each has a distinct meaning and understanding the nuance is so very important. Diversity simply refers to differences. Diversity is not just about what people see, like race, gender, or age rather diversity refers to the many ways visible and invisible that people can vary. It encompasses a breadth of many possible dimensions, where you're from, how you think, your educational background, your religion, the list is vast. So when we think about diversity in the context of DEI, I invite you to think about this in a complex way. Again, beyond the optics, importantly, our differences not only make up who we are but also impact how we experience our world. This is something we often refer to as lived experience. The essence is that the same situation can be experienced by two people very differently depending on the lens from which they may be viewing the situation. An overly simple example, 60 degrees is an objective temperature, and yet a person from a tropical place may experience 60 degrees as cold whereas a Northerner might think of that same 60 degrees as balmy. Their experience of the same objective situation is influenced by their background. No one is right or wrong, it just is. Now importantly, some dimensions of difference are more consequential than others. We cannot ignore that some social identity dimensions such as race, gender, and sexual orientation are but a few examples, these dimensions are particularly consequential regarding differential access to both power and privilege. So while all differences are meaningful and impact how we show up to any given space it also is important to acknowledge that some individuals are more likely to be marginalized than others. Equity is about how different individuals are treated. When there is equity, all individuals across their differences have what they need to thrive. Importantly, equity and equality are not the same and this often trips people up. Equality means everyone gets the same thing, but because everyone is different, the same thing does not work, equally well for different people. In the words of Dr. Nhi Dasani, "Equality is when everyone gets the same shoe and equity is when everyone gets a shoe that fits." Inclusion, inclusion refers to the degree to which everyone across their differences is valued, considered and respected as part of a larger whole. Truly inclusive environments are ones in which differences are not simply tolerated rather they are celebrated. Finally, there is one more important letter that is sometimes added to the DEI, which is B for belonging. Belonging is the feeling of true acceptance that individuals experience when DEI is done right. When diverse people are giving access to what they need to thrive and are valued for the unique perspectives they bring to the table and belonging is key. It is hard for any person no matter who they are, their background, their demographics to show up at their best, if they're always questioning whether or not they belong, do I belong here? Am I seen? Am I valued? Am I heard? Do I have full opportunity for success? If people are questioning those things, they are not showing up at their best. My hope is that it's now clear that DEI and B, diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging are distinct concepts and while are clearly related are each critical in their own unique way.

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