- by Clare Marino
- The Guardian
- Issue #2137
“All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” George Orwell’s quote from Animal Farm is a reference to the hypocrisy of governments that proclaim the absolute equality of their citizens but give power and privilege only to a handful of powerful, capitalist cronies.
Until recently, the terms diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) were so-called motherhood statements, the category of ideas that are so patently fair and worthwhile that it’s hard to imagine any logical argument against them. This still holds true, there are no logical, evidenced-based rational arguments against them, but these important representations of equality and fairness are under attack, nevertheless.
The United States president’s 21 January executive order stopping “radical and wasteful” DEI programs in federal agencies ought to be great cause for alarm, especially when conservative politicians in Australia appear to be dog whistling their support for these retrograde ideas.
Many large companies have been quick to follow the president’s lead and adopt his anti-equity agenda, including those that do big business in Australia. Goldman Sachs has announced that it will end its formal board diversity program, requiring at least two diverse members on its board of directors. Deloitte has announced it will “sunset” its annual diversity report.
Over the past few months, the list of companies either scrapping or announcing plans to wind back their DEI policies and practices has grown. Huge corporations including Walmart, Meta, and Amazon have released official statements announcing plans to abandon DEI commitments and end programs designed to support underrepresented groups. A Google spokesperson announced that company would no longer celebrate cultural days including Pride Month and Black History month. Disney says it is “rebranding” DEI!
Some of these corporations are hiding behind the fig leaf of corporate double speak, saying while they have abandoned formal measures their commitment to equity remains. This is patently ridiculous. In the absence of formal policies and practices, such as quotas and other measures to facilitate the inclusion of women, the evidence is that progress towards equality will stagnate or reverse. Look at the number of women in the quota-free Liberal Party, or the number of female CEOs and board members. In the recent list of the 100 highest paid athletes there was not one female name.
Look at Australia’s highly gender-segregated workforce where ‘women’s work’ is under-valued and under-paid. The struggle of nurses, carers, and teachers for equal pay for work of equal value is far from won, while other higher paid occupations in mining, construction, and engineering are male-dominated with some of the highest paid workers. Women face many barriers to entering the workforce, such as lack of affordable childcare, caring for an elderly relative, lack or educational opportunity or outright discrimination in the workforce. It is no coincidence that women are more likely to be found in casual employment or lower paid jobs.
Australia has some important examples of systemic commitment towards inclusion that it can be proud of. Think of Medicare, compulsory super and the NDIS. Not perfect systems by a long shot but important moves in the right direction.
It is crucial that we call out the scrapping of DEI for what it is, an attempt to allow blatant discrimination, wind back progress towards fairness and equity and enshrine privilege. With a federal election looming we need to name and shame those candidates jumping on Trump’s bigoted bandwagon and call out candidates and bosses doing the same.
