In field of Diversity and Intercultural Communications it’s all about action. What is your company’s recruitment strategy? Do you have a Supplier Diversity Program? What about mentoring? Internships? What faces are featured in your internal and external communications?
Take a look at this photo (by Charlie Gesell, AP) from MSNBC of students this week at the University of Alabama who dressed in Confederate costumes and paraded in front of a black sorority. Now consider the image through this lens:
1.) The constitution protects an individual’s right to freedom of expression;
2.) Proving the “Business Case for Diversity” is gold-it’s all about how it improves the bottom line;
3.) In one’s personal life, it’s understood that core values guide actions.
Diversity training looks at changing behavior in the workplace (or in schools, organizations etc.) and there are theories that say that beliefs can develop in response to actions. But what about when actions follow beliefs?
In light of the idea that “children are the future,” would these students make fair and equitable leaders? Would you want to work for one of them?
Not on topic, but have you seen this series of articles on intercultural television advertising? http://blog.beniers-consultancy.de/archives/1224
Thanks, Gori Girl. His research is a little old (over 20 years) but a great resource–fantastic theoretical context too. Plus your timing is perfect–I leave in the morning to presentat at conference on Representations of Race and Culture in Advertising–his blog provides some great insights.