The Importance of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Everyday Life
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are crucial aspects of any community or setting we are a part of. They are critical for workplace communication and completion of tasks, found in school projects and presentations, and are the root of making people feel important in what they do. Due to everyone having different strengths, weaknesses, and ideas, it's important to acknowledge the diversity of the people we meet and make them feel included and heard. Treating everyone you meet equally enhances your experiences and connections in several aspects. It is important to acknowledge DEI daily to foster innovation and creativity, grow mentally, ensure fairness, enhance views and perspectives, and have representation in democracy. By taking these aspects into account for everyday activities, it will overall create a sense of purpose in the creation of balance.
By taking into account diversity, equity, and inclusion in everyday life, it creates an environment to foster innovation and creativity. When having a tunnel vision or mindset, we often believe our own ideas are the most efficient and effective. What we do not take into account are our own strengths and weaknesses, and how they work alongside other people.
By diversifying a group we work with past ourselves, we open the floor to a variety of new ideas that can be collaborated on. Making people feel included in the group lets them voice their ideas and opinions and strengthens the group and the communication between members. Finally, by acknowledging equality, it makes everyone feel important as a key contributor, to striving for success. These qualities combine helps to people to grow, make new connections, and work in an environment that is creative and innovative. This idea can be found in a variety of settings; work, school, or even in encounters with family members and friends. This would be a critical asset in entrepreneurial environments, where innovation and creativity are highly sought after. Group efforts will be made to create an environment of growth and collaboration, to strengthen ideas and imaginations. This takes ideas from good to great when people can work together on them.
Secondly, acknowledging DEI helps one to grow mentally, and even psychologically. When creating an environment for these qualities to grow and flourish, it then helps people become open-minded and accept space for creativity and sharing. People learn to hear others' opinions and learn to be empathetic with others. It creates room for new viewpoints and perspectives to be heard and collaboration through adaptability. This idea of open-mindedness and creating a space where people can be heard helps with later situations of conflict resolution or times of struggle. You can learn to understand other’s perspectives and ideas, treat them with respect, and process different feelings and opinions. Taking these ideas into account, diversity, inclusivity, and equity are crucial aspects in a situation where empathy is required. Being able to have these qualities to really understand a person and where they are coming from, helps to broaden mindsets and growth for the psychological state. You can think about the situation beyond yourself and your own opinions, but rather from the other person’s point of view to really understand the situation. Putting yourself in someone else’s shoes helps to grasp the situation better, and to be understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion when coming up with a solution.
Incorporating diversity, equity, and inclusion in everyday practices also helps to ensure fairness. There are often stereotypes and propaganda that influence the way people treat those they meet. The media and other social influences can also tamper with the way we treat people, and how we view them compared to ourselves. It is important not to judge a book by its cover and to take away these assumptions we have of people before we truly get to know who they are. Being open-minded about everyone’s different ideas, opinions, and voices, ensures people are treated fairly and everyone feels that they can express how they feel. As well, treating others with fairness gives them the incentive and respect they need to treat you with the same respect and fairness. People often want to share and work alongside people they respect and feel will give them fairness equal to everyone else.
To enhance your views and perspectives on topics, it is important to be aware of diversity, inclusivity, and equity to continue to learn. This goes alongside fostering innovation, where thinking creatively and outside of the box is a critical component. However, enhancing views and perspectives has a critical thinking aspect to it, to help analyse what you already know and how to expand it. Diversifying those you communicate with, will also help diversify the way you think about things and the perspective you have on events in the media. This goes beyond what you know and think, and takes a more anthropologic viewpoint to “see your own seeing”. This helps you to question what may be considered socially accepted norms in the media, especially in the world we live in today. There are constantly stories in the media and online that can be analysed and looked at from diverse viewpoints. Questioning things we hear and see can help to learn new things and incorporate diversity, inclusivity, and equity in all we do.
Lastly, taking into account diversity, inclusivity, and equity in everyday life creates room for representation in democracies. Those who feel less represented in the media or society for a variety of reasons may feel like their opinions are not well represented. By taking the initiative to create environments where diversity, equity, and inclusivity can thrive and flourish. By fostering these environments, people can not only voice their opinions and views but feel they are respected when making larger decisions as a group. This can be done by giving everyone the opportunity to voice their ideas, have votes on decisions, and collaborate and compromise. Considering diversity, equity, and inclusivity democracies will help to build community, enhance leadership, and overall give a voice in a just and effective environment.
By acknowledging diversity, equity, and inclusion in our everyday activities and lifestyles, we can create a sense of community for everyone to be a part of. Not only does it benefit those who feel isolated and that their voice and opinions are not being heard, but it also creates an opportunity to learn and grow, by hearing these stories. By incorporating diversity, equity, and inclusion into our lifestyles, we can work towards an environment of fairness, and democracy, questioning social norms and treating everyone with the respect they deserve.
Written by Audrey Wong
