Combating Isms and Phobias: Protecting DEIA Champions and Fostering Inclusive Environments

Protecting DEIA Champions and Fostering Inclusive Environments

Racism, Sexism, Ageism, Ableism— any kind of ism or phobia, such as homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia— is a disease of the mind and thrives on violence. The United Nations defines violence as “The intentional use of physical force or power, threatened or actual, against oneself, another person, or against a group or community, that either results in or has a high likelihood of resulting in injury, death, psychological harm, maldevelopment or deprivation.” Violence is distinguished from injury or harm in that injury or harm may result from unintended actions and incidents, whereas violence is intentional.

Both isms and phobias cause logical thinking and objectivity to rot in hate, fear (or fear-mongering), and bias. There is a Proverb that says, “Do not envy a person of violence and do not choose any of their ways.”

Therefore, when interacting with a person who is trapped in their own mind by fear, hate, and bias, you may have to ask yourself questions to determine how or whether to engage. These questions include but are not limited to:

1. Is this person baiting me for an argument or debate? Or are they genuinely seeking to understand DEIA?
2. If I take the bait, will I be able to change the person’s mind or help them rethink their perspective, or will the conversation be pointless— like going down a rabbit hole?
3. Are there others who are observing and may be influenced by what I say, or don’t say?
4. Is there a way that I could encourage self-directed research or learning to redirect the individual?
5. Will the individual’s talking points mislead or change the narrative to portray DEI as something that it is not?
6. Are there respected individuals who can serve as role models or teach a different way of thinking by doing?
7. Finally, fear and hate can only flourish when it breeds. How can I ensure that I don’t inadvertently adopt a hateful, fearful, or biased mindset based on this negative or unpleasant interaction?

People who advance isms and phobias want DEIA champions to stop talking about the isms and phobias so they can do what they want to others without consequences, and continue to benefit from unfairness, inequity, and injustice. Just because you don’t engage in an argument, doesn’t mean that you stop talking about isms and phobias.

Truth is truth, and that is: DEIA is designed to benefit *everyone* through fairness, belonging, and accessibility. Everyone means all, with no one excluded.