Diversity Challenged

College campuses provide ideal natural settings for studying diversity: they allow us to see what happens when students of all different backgrounds sit side by side in classrooms, live together in residence halls, and interact in one social space. By opening a window onto the experiences and evolving identities of individuals in these exceptionally diverse environments, we can gain a better understanding of the possibilities and challenges we face as a multicultural nation. The Diversity Challenge—the largest and most comprehensive study to date on college campus diversity—synthesizes over five years' worth of research by an interdisciplinary team of experts to explore how a highly diverse environment and policies that promote cultural diversity affect social relations, identity formation, and a variety of racial and political attitudes. The result is a fascinating case study of the ways in which individuals grow and groups interact in a world where ethnic and racial difference is the norm. The authors of The Diversity Challenge followed 2,000 UCLA students for five years in order to see how diversity affects identities, attitudes, and group conflicts over time. They found that racial prejudice generally decreased with exposure to the ethnically diverse college environment. Students who were randomly assigned to roommates of a different ethnicity developed more favorable attitudes toward students of different backgrounds, and the same associations held for friendship and dating patterns. By contrast, students who interacted mainly with others of similar backgrounds were more likely to exhibit bias toward others and perceive discrimination against their group. Likewise, the authors found that involvement in ethnically segregated student organizations sharpened perceptions of discrimination and aggravated conflict between groups. The Diversity Challenge also reports compelling new evidence that a strong ethnic identity can coexist with a larger community identity: students from all ethnic groups were equally likely to identify themselves as a part of the broader UCLA community. Overall, the authors note that on many measures, the racial and political attitudes of the students were remarkably consistent throughout the five year study. But the transformations that did take place provide us with a wealth of information on how diversity affects individuals, groups, and the cohesion of a community. Theoretically informed and empirically grounded, The Diversity Challenge is an illuminating and provocative portrait of one of the most diverse college campuses in the nation. The story of multicultural UCLA has significant and far-reaching implications for our nation, as we face similar challenges—and opportunities—on a much larger scale.

The Civil Rights Projects, Harvard University.

Is it really possible for an individual or an organization to develop an inclusion and diversity mindset within the proverbial 99 days? Award-winning social entrepreneur Dr Saundarya Rajesh, one of India's most prominent diversity strategists who is credited with having ushered in the 'second-career' revolution for women professionals, believes it is. In an engaging, gentle, often light-hearted way, Dr Rajesh demystifies this vast subject of Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) for the business leader, the diversity enthusiast and even the young professional who is interested in this topic. Over a set of 99 stories, anecdotes and thought blogs, this book sequentially uncovers the meaning of D&I and how this can be absorbed by just about everyone. At the core of the 99 Day Diversity Challenge is the belief that the organizational practice of inclusion actually results in us becoming better human beings. For when we break down differences and create greater connectedness between people, we are building a better world.

Throughout the past several years, diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives have been a part of a growing phenomenon to address the diverse needs of organizations. However, the act of diversity training and implementation in programs has traditionally been reactive as a result of a scandal rather than proactive. As more industries see the benefits of diversity, equity, and inclusion training, we will continue to see the benefits of a sustainable, healthy working environment for all. Challenges to Integrating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Programs in Organizations is an essential reference source that shares the challenges and opportunities faced by diversity, equity, and inclusion officers who are leading their organizations to becoming more diverse, equitable, and inclusive working environments. Featuring research on topics such as institutional equity, organizational culture, and diverse workplace, this book is ideally designed for administrators, human resource specialists, researchers, business professionals, academicians, and students, as well as organizations looking to make the intentional shifts necessary to develop and foster a more inclusive working and learning environment.

Tackles the challenge of dismantling the multicultural model without destroying diversity in European society* Have Europeans become hostile to multiculturalism? * When people vote for anti-immigration parties, do they also support their anti-multiculturalism policies? * And are right-wing extremists becoming the storm troopers of the struggle against diversity?In recent years, European political leaders from Angela Merkel to David Cameron have discarded the term 'multiculturalism' and now express scepticism, criticism and even hostility towards multicultural ways of organising their societies. Yet they are unprepared to reverse the diversity existing in their states. These contradictory choices have different political consequences in the countries examined in this book. The future of European liberalism is being played out as multicultural notions of belonging, inclusion, tolerance and the national home are brought into question.

′What makes this book stand out in the crowd is the engaging approach the authors have taken to present their argument and the novel treatment they offer of diversity and diversity management...a must-read for anyone in a leadership position or interested in investigating education leadership and diversity′ - Gender and Education ′The authors should be congratulated for tackling the crucial topic of diversity within educational leadership....the book makes a major contribution to the small but emergent body of studies in this area′ - Journal of Educational Administration & History ′This book sets out a central aim of stimulating reflection on diversity and implications for leaders in education. It also aims to support the development of practice. It is a useful book for those involved in educational management and for policy makers at all levels′ - ESCalate ′The authors challenge the reader to reconsider leadership theory in light of notions of social justice and diversity, and to put into place newly articulated frameworks for action...The text is richly supported by strong empirical research and a sometimes-intricate philosophical approach in making its case for justice and fairness in education and beyond′ - Choice Magazine What do we mean by diversity? Why is it an important issue for leaders of schools, colleges and universities? As society becomes increasingly diverse, there is significant international awareness in education about how this impacts on leaders and leadership. For decades the emphasis has been placed on increasing the number of leaders with specific attributes, such as women or those from ethnic minorities, to encourage a true representation of society. This far-reaching book takes a wider view, challenging the reader to recognise the importance of diversity issues and to embed diversity as central within leadership theory and practice. Drawing on their extensive research the authors establish a clear understanding of what diversity means and use this to develop a distinct approach to conceiving leadership, preparing leaders and acting as leaders. They explain how diversity should be a holistic issue which touches every aspect of leadership and is vital to ensuring effective and appropriate leadership for education in pluralist societies. The authors explore the history of approaches to addressing inequities in access to leadership positions and the experience of leadership, from equal opportunities, to diversity and inclusion, to capabilities approaches. The book also proposes fundamental and concrete changes that leaders can undertake both in their own and their organisation′s practice, to reflect a real commitment to social justice in a diverse society.

Colleges and universities cannot ignore the increasingly diverse student population in their classrooms, and how a focus on equity, diversity, and inclusion across disciplines trains students in the intercultural awareness they will need in competitive job markets. Yet while faculty may be aware of a need to understand EDI goals in relationship to their disciplines, and institutions may support EDI in theory, the onus of pedagogical training in EDI often falls on individual faculty. This book was written by faculty and administrators for educators who value the goals of EDI, and seek an intellectual community to help them develop their practice. Important to this book is an honest discussion of common challenges faculty may face when they engage in this difficult work, and effective strategies for addressing those challenges. The chapters are grouped according to six different themes: respect for divergent learning styles; inclusion and exclusion; technology and social action; affective considerations; reflection for critical consciousness; and safe spaces and resistance.

This interrogates the racist construction of Aria and Aryanism in an Iranian context, arguing that these concepts gave the Indo-European speaking Persian ethnic group an advantage over Iran's non-Persian nationalities and communities.