Kareem Sadiq
Jun 7, 2023
Equity speaks directly to demographic representation
Recently, a Linked-In post from Canada came across my feed that spoke to the virtues of conducting “social inclusion audits” to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion goals with respect to race, gender, age and ability representation in the workplace.
I was horrified.
It is stunning that in Canada 2023, the watered-down term “social inclusion audits” is employed when the concept of equity audits has been around for decades. Equity speaks directly to demographic representation.
Modern usage of the term “social inclusion” emerged in the 1970s and dovetailed with European welfare expansion, which sought to include people excluded from social insurance systems.[1] However the concept of social inclusion is ill-defined[2], white-centred, and fails to address the unique historical and systemic disadvantages faced by excluded groups.
It’s time to move beyond social inclusion, and advocate for equity instead.
Considering the context of racial equity, here are a few reasons why the concept of social inclusion is deeply problematic.
Assimilationist
Social inclusion emphasizes assimilation[3] into existing, white dominated societal structures, norms, and institutions, which often perpetuate systemic racism. By expecting racialized groups to conform to white norms, social inclusion fails to challenge and dismantle the systems that maintain racial inequities.
Tokenism and Superficial Diversity
Social inclusion initiatives focus on achieving surface-level diversity without addressing underlying power dynamics and structural inequalities. This approach results in tokenism[4], where a few individuals from racialized groups are included, but the broader systemic barriers and inequities remain intact.
Wealth, Wage and Quality of Life Gaps
Social inclusion fails to address structural economic racial disparities. The concept does not tackle wealth gaps and unequal access to quality education, healthcare, housing, and employment opportunities that disproportionately affect racialized people. Without addressing these material inequities, social inclusion initiatives are ineffective.
Centers Whiteness
The concept of social inclusion assumes that the dominant white culture is the norm and sets the standards for inclusion.[5] As such, the approach prioritizes assimilation into white cultural norms, values, and institutions. Social inclusion ignores the diverse cultural practices, languages, and ways of being that exist within racialized communities.
By failing to recognize and respect different cultural perspectives, social inclusion reinforces the dominance of whiteness, and perpetuates a white-centric worldview that marginalizes and sidelines the experiences, cultures, and needs of non-white people. Social inclusion is a one-size-fits-all approach that is ill-suited to addressing the complex reality and needs of racially diverse populations.
No Intersectionality
Social inclusion overlooks the intersection of race with gender, class, sexuality and ability. By failing to recognize and address the unique experiences of individuals who face multiple forms of marginalization, social inclusion initiatives reinforce the dominance of whiteness and perpetuate further exclusion.
Limited Perspectives and Decision-Making Power
The concept of social inclusion lacks meaningful representation and decision-making power for racialized people. Without authentic engagement and leadership from non-white communities, initiatives risk being shaped and controlled by white perspectives and interests. This further marginalizes people and perpetuates white dominance in shaping inclusion strategies.
Time to Move Beyond Social Inclusion
To advance racial, gender, age, and ability representation, it is essential to move beyond the limitations of “social inclusion” and adopt a more comprehensive and intersectional approach grounded in equity. An intersectional approach must address the root causes of systemic discrimination and racism, dismantle oppressive structures, and actively promote racial justice. It must centre the experiences, voices, and needs of marginalized and racialized racial groups, challenge white supremacy and decades of workplace racial redlining, and promote redistributive justice to ensure equitable access to resources and opportunities.
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[1]https://www.researchgate.net/publication/322160853_Social_Inclusion_Origins_concepts_and_key_themes
[2] https://www.cmi.no/file/589.pdf
[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10203991/
[4https://business.vanderbilt.edu/news/2018/02/26/tokenism-in-the-workplace/