Opinion
Lab
Lab
See how this opinion breaks down by gender, political spectrum and generation — and who shares your view.
Gender
AGREEDISAGREE
Male
Female
Non-binary
10 comments
Against
IXH8265y ago
**how could people simply existing as minorities make the workplace suffer?**
- this insinuates that just by being a minority you are bringing down the workplace performance. diversity has countless [benefits.](https://www.cultureamp.com/blog/benefits-diversity-in-workplace)
for example, it leaves the option open for more perspectives on a wide range of issues since people will have far more different experiences and varying backgrounds.
- it is [important](https://dynamicsignal.com/2020/10/16/why-workplace-diversity-is-important/) to show younger generations of POC so they can have role models so they don't feel alienated and unable to partake in certain professions due to their race. there is a huge and unfair gap that needs to be bridged and the best way to do that is to allow opportunities for people who are qualified but rejected for reasons beyond their control to shine. there is a notorious issue with people being judged for their name and how ethnic it sounded, which is just an example of ways in which you are shunned if you are not white.
- by this logic we just shouldn't hire minorities altogether. this would then feed the hypcorisy and fuel the narrative that people of colour are lazy, while they are also blamed for taking jobs. the problem is not diversity which is much needed for more reasons than can be shared. the problem is and will always be racism.
··
MrStrawHat5y ago
The benefits of diversity are dependent on the background of the individual, not their aesthetics
··
For
Jonathanese5y ago
It's true. In a similar way, racially monolithic communities often have lower crime. When people of different backgrounds are together, there is a >0% increase in potential conflicts. I would imagine that number is pretty low, though.
Regardless, that would simply be descriptive, not prescriptive. Is the world better segregated? Is your life better if you only interact with a bunch of clones of yourself? Productivity might be higher if everyone looks, acts, and thinks the same, but what of creativity?
If diversity harms raw productivity, then the way I see it, that hit to productivity is just the cost of making the world a better place.
··
Commentary
Linda5y ago
The premisses of this question are silly.
··
jape5y ago
Hi! Can you tell us more about what you mean?
Could you explain what premises you feel are here and why you believe they are silly?
That would be very helpful for others to understand what you mean.
Thanks so much!
··
Linda5y ago
If demographic data refers to socioeconomic information expressed statistically, then how can race and gender be?
··
Turi5y ago
In France, ethnicity and religion are deliberately excluded from demographic data (although gender isn't)...
In the UK and US, ethnicity is included - is that right?
··
Linda5y ago
In England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, ethnicity is included, but the classification is entirely [subjective](https://www.ons.gov.uk/methodology/classificationsandstandards/measuringequality/ethnicgroupnationalidentityandreligion)
This is also true in the US, [apparently]( https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/05/05/millions-of-americans-changed-their-racial-or-ethnic-identity-from-one-census-to-the-next/)
However, the categorisation is pending reclassification in Scotland and Ireland; there is a desire to move towards nationality rather than racial categorisations. The current debate on the [BAME](https://www.inclusiveemployers.co.uk/bame-thoughts-on-a-name/)acronym developed in the 70s is also interesting to note.
( https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/03/28/exclusive-scrap-use-bame-label-race-commission-tells-boris-johnson/ )
My understanding is work performance is quantifiable while race, is not. Gender once was, but new classifications has clearly differentiated it from biological attributes, (sex). (https://cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/48642.html)
··
Turi5y ago
This is fascinating - thank you!
··
For
manshakapur5y ago
**It is true that differences can lead to conflict, and saying this does not mean that diversity itself is to blame.**
Diversity in race and gender can negatively affect workplace performance when prejudiced individuals and systems are at play. A bigoted stance on this claim would invoke the claim:
"Having someone of the opposite sex/a different race is decreasing workplace productivity."
A more progressive viewpoint, on the contrary, would appear as follows:
"Employees with exclusionary and prejudiced perspectives are hampering collaboration and creating a negative workplace environment."
Diversity in race and gender could be having a negative impact in both scenarios, but whether we choose to assign causative blame to diversity or to racism and sexism is another question entirely.
- To answer _that_ question, of course, one merely has to cite the numerous studies demonstrating the [positive impacts](https://gap.hks.harvard.edu/impact-gender-diversity-performance-business-teams-evidence-field-experiment) of welcomed and celebrated diversity on workplace performance to show that, objectively, we should seek to welcome race and gender differences amongst employees.
- On ethical grounds, the cultivation of an equitable society in which all individuals are treated on the basis of controllable factors - i.e., skill as opposed to background or sex and gender - necessitates that we target prejudice as the culprit.
It is worth citing that there have been [studies demonstrating nonlinear relationships](https://zenronin.com/diversity-improve-financial-performance/) between diversity and performance. Generally, however, the adoption of inclusive practices and policies complements diversity in the workplace, and we might validly anticipate improved productivity.
··
Sign up or log in to post a comment.
Are we missing an argument?
Make the case or invite a friend to comment!
Make the case or invite a friend to comment!