Diversity in the workplace was a topic in my MBA class last week. Diversity is a touchy subject because people sometimes have strong feelings and opinions about it. There are times when I think my audience does not want to hear about diversity from someone like me, a middle aged white man. But I think it is important for someone that is part of the privileged majority to talk about it.
We have come a LONG way with diversity in the workplace. Just watch the TV show “Mad Men” set in the early 1960s for illustrations of how things were 50 short years ago. Our organizations are more diverse now than they have ever been and the pace of change is accelerating.
For a diverse individual getting in the organization is one thing; advancing through its ranks and rising to the top is still quite another. The pinnacle of power of most of our large institutions is still overwhelmingly male and white. I don’t see that changing anytime soon.
People from groups that hold power, whatever the power dimension is, are simply more comfortable with folks just like themselves and less comfortable with people that are different. Over time, they institutionalize the culture and systems that privilege themselves and disadvantage others. It can be difficult for even good hearted, well intentioned leaders to see the subtle mechanisms of privilege at work in their daily lives.
As a member of the power majority, I would be lying if I told you I don’t appreciate the privilege I inherited from the work of others. I feel absolutely no guilt about being privileged.
But I do feel a profound sense of responsibility to do everything I can to help transform the power dynamics in our organizations so that everyone can have access to the same privilege that I enjoy.
The level playing field is a myth. We still have a lot of work to do.
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Appreciate your comments, specially about Institiounalizing the system and then disadvantaging others .
This I can sincerely relate , as I work in Japan , a country with minimal foreigners in general and south asians in particular in work-force.
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Bret L. Simmons Reply:
September 6th, 2009 at 11:06 pm
Great example, Santosh. And I would bet that even among the homogeneous Japanese there are even smaller groups that hold power via similar mechanisms. Thanks! Bret
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Hi Bret. Diversity is a tricky issue. Its especially tricky because to overcome it requires some intentional decisions to include members of those groups not yet included, and sometimes results in overall bad decision making.
With that said, as a woman in business, I’ve had to tell my husband time and time again that the playing field is not level. Its better than it used to be, but equality is still a myth.
I think if we all were just mindful of the motives behind our decision making (hiring/firing/promoting,etc.) and keep race, gender, religion, age, etc. out of them, we will make progress over time. It just takes time. We are all guilty of some kind of bias, whether we want to admit it or not.
Thanks for your thought provoking piece. I can’t remember doing something on diversity for my MBA, but then again, its been a few years since I got mine.
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Bret L. Simmons Reply:
September 7th, 2009 at 9:08 am
Janna, I appreciate you sharing your thoughts. I would agree that we are all guilty of some kind of bias and often are not even aware of it. That’s why keeping diversity issues out of decision making is easier said than done. And many times the forces of inclusion and exclusion have kicked in way before it gets to us to make a decision, so we are unaware that our decision may already be biased before we put our hands on it. Thanks!! Bret
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Thanks for your thoughts on this topic.
You mention privilege “inherited from the work of others.” I’m wondering what you think/feel about the concept of privilege as being something that is unearned, e.g., privilege on the basis of gender, race, nationality, etc. that has nothing to do with effort – privilege based on nothing more than the circumstances under which a person is born.
Thank you.
Debra
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Bret L. Simmons Reply:
September 7th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
Debra, that is a really good question. I am not an expert on privilege, but I can tell you my thoughts. As a white male, I do enjoy a lot of privilege based on my circumstances. If I put on a suit and tie, I can go places and no one will ever blink an eye at me. Others would be watched more closely. I’ve never been in a group where I was asked to speak on behalf of all white men, whereas diverse others might be asked how members of their group might feel about this or that.
Pull out any bill in your wallet and you will find a picture of a white male. These were not evil men, and they worked HARD to build industries, communities and governments. But they were the majority, so the exclusive and inclusive dynamics of groups were at work. It may be so, but I am not aware of a society on earth where these group dynamics are not at work.
Thanks!! Bret
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Bret,
I appreciate your honesty about valuing the privilege that being part of the predominant culture. So rarely do I hear someone say (without apology) that they enjoy the benefits that privilege brings.
I’m wondering—do you find that being that honest raises the hackles of the listener? It’s sort of a no-win situation—if you acknowledge the privilege, you’re being authentic, yet if ignore it, then you’re labeled as “insensitive” or “unaware”.
Do you suppose that’s the root of White Guilt?
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Bret L. Simmons Reply:
September 8th, 2009 at 11:38 am
I have to be honest with you, Jennifer, being honest about white privilege is scary. I often get the biggest push back from white males. they are not bad folks, but they have been lead for some reason to believe that all things are now equal, and they simply are not. Not sure about the roots of white guilt, but guilt in any form is a useless emotion. If you don’t like the way something is, do something about it. Thanks!! Bret
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When I read the post, I thought, “Whoa, now that’s a brave man.” So true, being brutally honest is scary. But isn’t being inauthentic even scarier? Thanks for putting yourself out there.
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Bret L. Simmons Reply:
September 8th, 2009 at 12:13 pm
I think you are right, Jennifer, authenticity is even scarier, and harder to practice. Brutal honesty can actually be a tactic to fein full authenticity. Thanks! Bret
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Brett,
I agree with you about needing to educate our students about diversity. You imply that the playing field is not level. I’m not sure it will ever be level – individuals earn a more level field through their efforts. You, however are very general. Could you provide us with some specifics where you see the playing field intentionally tilted to those of us who are white males?
Thank you,
Duncan
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Bret L. Simmons Reply:
September 10th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
Duncan, I really appreciate your comment! I must, however, disagree that effort alone levels the playing field. For example, take a look at this link to the Wells Fargo Executive Team https://www.wellsfargo.com/about/corporate/executive_officers/
Banking and financial services are heavily populated by women and minorities. Just walk into your local branch bank and look around. What do you see? Do you see 70% white men at the branch level? No, but that is what you see at the top of the corporate level. Are we to believe that somehow that mass of women and minorities are not giving their best effort?
No, something else is going on – still.
Great question, Duncan! Thank you very much for taking the time to share your thoughts. Bret
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Thought provoking post. Thanks for admitting the “white privilege” because I know tons of people and friends, I might add, that won’t admit to it.
Like in any organization, change starts from the top. Until more minorities are given positions of higher level management and leadership, nothing will change. What’s worse is when companies give middle level management positions to minorities and think that they’ve done their part.
Great post.
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Bret L. Simmons Reply:
October 4th, 2009 at 3:09 pm
Kevin, I appreciate your thoughts and concur. A lot of window dressing out there, but much more hard work still to be done. Thanks for sharing! Bret
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I do understand and promote diversity however, when the requirement for diversity overrides the requirements and experience to perform a job that is where the system breaks down. In a highly specialized industry it is virtually impossible to comply with corporate diversity policies (quotas) and hire a highly skilled and experienced person. So, we are stuck under resourced due to this.
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Bret L. Simmons Reply:
October 6th, 2009 at 3:11 pm
Andy, I hear what you are saying and appreciate you sharing this. A lot of people have this concern. There are not easy answers to this, but those of us that have a chance to make a difference need to increase our awareness. I would rather push for diversity myself that feel like I was having it pushed on me. Thanks! Bret
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Its not easy being green…..
When I look around my workplace I am glad that my generation has learned to look past what my fathers generation considered flawed or incomplete races of people.
Some of my best friends may not have been friends at all if our culture had not advanced.
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Bret L. Simmons Reply:
September 19th, 2011 at 8:54 am
Great thoughts, Matt. Thanks for sharing! Bret
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I love this:
“As a member of the power majority, I would be lying if I told you I don’t appreciate the privilege I inherited from the work of others. I feel absolutely no guilt about being privileged.
But I do feel a profound sense of responsibility to do everything I can to help transform the power dynamics in our organizations so that everyone can have access to the same privilege that I enjoy”
You are so right. There’s no reason to feel guilty about these privileges, but I feel strongly that when given blessings and privileges in life, it is my moral obligation to society to share those blessings and fight for any who might be less fortunate due to circumstances beyond their control. That sense of responsibility is very real. The key is understanding the differences between things that are beyond our control and things that CAN be controlled.
“with great power comes great responsibility”, right?
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Bret L. Simmons Reply:
October 13th, 2011 at 6:46 pm
I hate dealing with people that see their power as a privilege instead of a responsibility, Nova. Thanks for sharing your thoughts! Bret
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