After Martin Luther King Jr. showed bravery in actively leading the Civil Rights Movement in 1955, many campaigns and advocacies promoting diversity and equity arose. And these efforts are coming to fruition as changes are slowly reflecting even in the workplace report. Based on an article published on the website University of California at San Diego, many faculty job postings are asking diversity statement—to identify candidates who have professional skills, experience, and/or willingness to engage in activities that would enhance diversity and equity efforts. In other words, a diversity statement is an opportunity for an individual to explain the distinct experiences and commitment they bring to the table. In this article, we will talk more about diversity statements and how to make one. Stay tuned.
A diversity statement is a document that is usually one-page Action plan long explaining an individual’s experiences and commitments to inclusiveness, equity, and diversity. Everyone can agree that every university that requests one is very committed to inclusivity and supporting its diverse members so that they look for someone who would be supportive of that cause. Furthermore, a diversity statement inclusion varies depending on what you believe or have done. Three areas that might be included in a diversity statement are (1) your values related to diversity, (2) your experiences working with a diverse population, and (3) your future plans related to inclusivity.
In an article written by Business Insider, it said that 42% of workers in the United States have encountered or seen racism at their workplaces.
Meanwhile, a report from the US Department of Justice found out that 8,552 people were victims of 7,103 single-bias incidents in 2019.
According to Criminal Defense Lawyer, charges for hate crimes vary in different states. However, many hate crimes are felonies, which are punishable by more than one year in prison.
According to Business Insider, there are 42% of employees in the United States have witnessed or seen racism at work. And based on a report published by Glassdoor, a large portion of the American workforce experienced discrimination at work. About three out of five workers have experienced discrimination based on their age, race, gender, or LGBTQ identity. That is why a diversity statement is important because it is one means to alleviate inequality within the community.
Because the diversity statement is an emerging genre in the context of the job application form, there are a few sets of guidelines on what you must include if you are to make one. But before that, keep in mind that the purpose of the statement is to present a commitment to fostering diversity, inclusivity, and equity. Below are the following elements that are appropriate for a diversity statement.
How do you write an effective diversity statement? If you are someone who cares about diversity and equity action plans, how do you convey that commitment in your diversity statement and to the readers? Yet, keep in mind that if you do not believe in this movement, spend your time on a cause you want to put a light on instead of writing a diversity statement. The very first thing to consider is to avoid composing a throwaway diversity statement. Some people may think that this document is too political and some may reject the idea of supporting diversity and equity. Hence, do not bother writing a statement directed at people who do not care about this cause. Make one for those who will take the time to read your diversity statement carefully. The list below serves as a guide in making one.
If you have worked hard and persevered in a long time to get to where you are now, it should be pointed out in your diversity statement. On the contrary, if you are privileged, acknowledge that. Tell your story that molded you into the person you are today and how it influenced you to be passionate about diversity and equity. For example, if you grew up walking extra miles to get to school carrying two 10-pound sacks of rice on your back, write that story as part of the diversity statement. Meanwhile, if you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth, confess that advantage. Either way, use your experiences to explain how you can empathize with others who face adversities in their lives because they are excluded from the standards set up by society.
To create an impact in your sample diversity statement, focus on issues such as race, gender, social class, and sexual orientation. Writing about how it is hard to be a Texan in New York may tone down your statement. Avoid this and concentrate on racial oppression, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, or some other commonly recognized form of oppression. Although this is a sensitive topic to discuss, knowing where you stand and knowing the right words to say will make your statement relatable and convincing. Moreover, open your mind to other people’s opinions on your words, especially those who have the same experience as you. Try to look at their perspective and understand their take on diversity and racism. Be more than just an echo and be their voice.
What is a false parallel and why should you avoid it? A false parallel is two ideas or events that seem to be similar for rhetorical effect but have no basis in fact. Reverse racism is one of the most obvious examples. By that we mean do not equate the exclusion a Texan faced being in New York with the exclusion of African-American faces in a primarily white environment. Needless to say, no one needs to be an African-American to have insight into the challenges they face, do not claim it if you do not have experiential knowledge of racism. Rather, focus on writing about what you know. Writing personal is also effective as long as you are comfortable in doing so. However, you do not have to get personal, cite statistics or research plan to get your points across.
Write about specific things you have done to promote your cause. If you have never done anything to help anyone, then go out and do something. Start one step at a time—acknowledge and honor multiple religious and cultural practices and foster a company culture where everyone is welcome, heard, and respected. Additionally, open a dialogue about gender equality, foster diverse thinking, encourage personal evaluation, and most importantly value all diversity. As a reward for your experience, you can write it down in your diversity statement.
Highlight your commitment to working toward achieving equity and enhancing diversity. To do this, describe specific ways you are willing to contribute like willingness to contribute to pre-existing programs or interest in creating new programs based on successful inclusive models. With this, the readers of your diversity statement will be more convinced of your intentions. Moreover, in writing your statement, make sure to use simple words or language that is easily understood by the audience analysis. It does not need highfalutin words. If you cannot avoid it, only incorporate a few of these words. Enough for the readers to learn and check on their meanings.
The statement you sent to an organization should not be the exact same one you are to send to another. Remember this: look up the demographics of the organization to which you are sending and mention those demographics in your statement. For example, if you are sending the statement to a university, which is a Hispanic-serving institution, you should aware of that. This will also guide your readers and put your message across. There is no generic diversity statement as every inclusiveness issue is different. Hence, modifying your statement and aligning it to the requirement of any organization that requires it makes more impact.
The Criminal Defense Lawyer said that charges for hate crimes vary in different states. But, many hate crimes are felonies, which are punishable by more than one year in prison.
It is important to remember that some people wich to share their personal background statement in their actual statement. However, some may not be comfortable in doing so. Reflecting on your personal preference can helpful regardless. Some level of transparency may help readers contextualize the experiences and approaches you talk about in your statement.
A diversity statement is relatively a new addition to your packet. Even if some organizations are still developing promotion assessment tools for such statements, you can use this novelty to your advantage by writing a stellar statement that highlights your record of contributions to diversity and inclusivity and commitment to future efforts.
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