Over recent years, everybody became a diversity expert and ‘good ideas’ are spreading fast – even when they are based on false assumptions or have adverse effects. Also in the gender area people reproduce myths and overlook empirical insight. #IWD2021
Policy Development
470 article(s)
Scaling D&I to reach the mainstream
A new series of articles reframes D&I to shift the focus from special interest groups to large audiences. It was often proclaimed that ‚everyone‘ should be part of D&I and that it is an embedded business topic. Here are three related deep dives.
Will D&I benefit from covid-19 – or suffer?
Solidarity everywhere and an incredible boost of flexible working. Many believe that covid-19 causes the long-awaited transformation at work and that key people will feel differently about individual work arrangements in the future. This may be wishful thinking…
Beyond yesterday’s Dual Career Paradigm
The European Union is undertaking major steps to provide equally high standards for the integration of work and private life for both men and women. Empirical research and good practice confirm the need to switch from a Dual-Breadwinner to a Dual-Earner-Carer-Model.
Business-based reactions to anti-Diversity policies
The operator of London’s public transport network, TfL, has banned advertising from eleven countries that breach human (LGBT) rights. The reaction reaches far beyond the individual ‘Brunei case’ and affects global airlines and tourist boards. It raises the question how many more countries could be criticised for other anti-Diversity policies…
Ageist for no Reason?
Alongside Fridays for Future and other movements, a new form of generational dispute can be noticed: Young people not feeling that their voices are heard and wanting to break with the past to create their future – by themselves and for themselves.
About Carnival and other, e.g. Jewish holidays
It is not a Public holiday, but a factual one: carnival. It’s hard to imagine a nationwide common state exam on this date. Why then on a high Jewish holiday? How Jewish carnivalists become part of the answer.
New Diversity Logo First Presented to Erdogan
It was a surprising opportunity for European Diversity: just a few days after they had presented a D&I vision for Europe in Budapest, the team publicly used their brand-new company logo to communicate a European message to Erdogan’s entourage passing in front of their Cologne offices.
ECB fail: How an EU institution undermines EU gender equality
European Union Institutions tend to take the high ground when it comes to Gender Equality. The unveiling event for the new 100 and 200 Euro banknotes at the ECB showed how easy an opportunity to show equality is missed and traditional gender clichés are promoted – by the EU itself.
„No need for Gender on the Labour Market“
In an attempt to justify the ban of gender studies from Hungarian Universities, State officials claimed that differences between men and women were purely biological. Hence there was no need to do research or to teach Gender in Hungary.
Innovatives Gendermanagement in Kommunen – ähnlich wie in der Wirtschaft?
Der zweite „Gender Award – Kommune mit Zukunft“ würdigt vorbildliche Gleichstellungsarbeit auf kommunaler Ebene und zeigt den Gestaltungsspielraum jenseits gesetzlicher Regelungen. Manche Aspekte scheinen dem Vorbild der Wirtschaft zu folgen – oder sind es parallele Entwicklungen?
Diverse government team reflects ‘the best in society’, some FTSE350 disagree
Any government should be expected to comprise the most capable in each policy area. Recent appointments and interviews with FTSE350 chairs reveal how interpretation of this varies. Meanwhile, Spain’s new Prime Minister has sent a strong message where he sees potential. It is quite the opposite of what Donald Trump and others communicated in 2017.
How the context for D&I is changing
For D&I practitioners, the societal climate and political environment are essential context factors. Both have direct impact on what organisations are doing in regards to diversity, equal opportunities or integration. A first of its kind report shows how societal and political dynamics relating to D&I have been changing in recent years – to the point that some equality laws might disappear.
The Ideologies of the Female Quota: Numbers as Self-Criticism, Complaint or Controlling Tool?
When it comes to the proportion of women in management, the fronts seem to be ideologically hardened. From data selection and analysis to interpretation and choice of words, polarised positions rumble all over the country. (Almost) all of them, however, want to achieve the same goals and could all work together. A reframing for business practitioners.
Herum’trump‘eln auf Minderheiten in Deutschland
Mit einer „beleidigenden Gegenüberstellung“ äußerte sich gestern Stephan Mayer, CSU Vorstandsmitglied, im WDR Fernsehen zu den sogenannten bürgerlichen Positionen seiner Partei. Dabei stellte er Minderheiteninteressen einer „schweigenden Mehrheit“ gegenüber. Eine Analyse gesellschaftlicher Daten wirft Fragen auf: Nur 9 Millionen Menschen passen gänzlich zu den CSU Positionen.
Latest examples: Fighting Nationalism with Comedy or Science
Many current Nationalist movements base their ideas on ethnic, religious, geographic or linguistic commonalities. Simple considerations can debunk many of them. However, in the discussion each party has become more and more creative in defending their ideas. Here are two intriguing ways to put Nationalism on the spot: comedy and science.
The themes of our time
The German conference of Tagessspiegel and Diversity Charter has become one of the household events for German diversity practitioners. The organisers see this as a mandate not only to present current trends, but also to offer an appealing mix of methods and a broad range of topics. With success.
New perspectives (and recommendations) on Pay Gaps and “poisoning language”
Admitting and understanding pay gaps is not easy for societies nor employers. A comprehensive pay gap analysis in the UK revealed inequalities for women and men, for ethnic groups and for people with a disability. Related recommendations go beyond traditional ways to address gender pay gaps, and they question wide-spread communication styles in the field.
Steiermark: Konsequente und umfassende Förderung für Frauen in Technik
Der klassischen Frauenförderung haftet der Beigeschmack der umgekehrten Bevorzugung an. Dessen ungeachtet fördert das AMS Österreich die technische Ausbildung – und neustens auch ein FH Studium; und zwar mit Quote und umfassend.
Doubts about the overall need for D&I? Two stories that will keep you engaged.
As a D&I supporter, you might sometimes feel that existing inequities are first world problems. Admittedly, some gaps appear larger and some seem to be closing – but is there still an urgent need to continue with D&I beyond the business case? Two examples will reconfirm your commitment – from Bolivia and Russia.