Why Performative Diversity Agendas are Failing the Most Marginalised Communities

Lip-service diversity initiatives will not raise workforce productivity.

The rise of the ‘diversity agenda’ has been very well charted over the past few years in the United Kingdom. With the Race Audit of 2017 catapulting the real institutional and interpersonal discrimination that women, members of minority ethnic groups, and members of the LGBTQ+ community face, efforts have been made to make tangible differences to these experiences.

Corporate entities have sworn to work with members of these communities in efforts to boost diversity in recruitment. Higher Education institutions have vowed to commit funding and resources to support the most marginalised students in the United Kingdom.

Social enterprises and award bodies have been set up to celebrate the richness of diversity across the UK. Surely, we are on the precipice of a revolution — one which finally results in an equal and fairer society for all?

As a keen supporter of diversity in industry and higher education, it is great to see these strides being made. However, what is becoming more and more ironic, is that in the haste to pose as diverse – many are doing greater harm than good.