Who Is to Blame for the Child Deaths Associated With TikTok Challenges?

social media Who Is to Blame for the Child Deaths Associated With TikTok Challenges?

Grim yet shocking headlines such as the death of two girls aged eight and nine associated with a social media (TikTok) challenge have been brought up in recent news articles. While these two girls may not be the first or last to succumb to these TikTok challenges, it has raised questions about who we need to blame for this problem. Should we blame the algorithms for pushing this content to children? Should we blame the people who created this content? Or should we blame the parents? Who audits TikTok’s algorithms? Who monitors how our children use technology? Is it perhaps time for us to start auditing these algorithms and demand accountability from those who control what our children see online? Do we need to take back control of these platforms so we don’t continue seeing stories like this?

Bringing a new life into this world is always met with excitement. Yet every single one of these happy moments comes at a cost. I know many parents who go to great lengths to survey their home before bringing a baby into it to see what dangers could be present for children—natural or otherwise. Some buy pool covers to keep them safe from accidental drowning; mount cabinet locks high enough that they can’t easily reach them; install window locks where they won’t slip through if left open unattended (quite unlike my old habit). I’m sure you’ve done similar things too! It seems modern technology has posed yet another danger to our children. How do we protect children from the dangers that lurk behind every click?

A social media account that causes problems

I first learned about the Blackout Challenge two days ago, but after researching I found evidence dating back years ago. Many children have died or have been hospitalized because of these blackout challenges! But when will we say enough is enough? How many more deaths will there need to be before action is taken, before these platforms start taking responsibility for their actions? Is society at fault for not holding these social media platforms accountable in a way that would put an end to the deaths of so many young children?

I know TikTok, in the past, has denied any responsibility for such deaths. I wonder if they will take responsibility now. How can TikTok algorithms continue to send such dangerous content to children? Are they simply missing this, or is it intentional recklessness on the part of TikTok? So why don’t they just find a way to monitor harmful content or at least have a filter to block it out entirely? These sites are already thriving off of these heinous posts, which is revolting! Yet, some controversial posts would get removed in a flash if somebody commented, “This isn’t nice!” What logic.

I think that a lot of the problems that we have seen with social media can be blamed on the fact that there is no accountability. Anyone can create an account and say whatever they want without any repercussions. This lack of accountability has led to the proliferation of such harmful content.

The problem is who controls what people see.

As a parent, I find it very frightening how social media can lead my child astray. So, each time we allow our children to use social media, they are practically one click away from risking their lives. It scares me even more because these big corporations do nothing but reward content that goes viral. After all, these sites make billions from advertising dollars every year, so they have a vested interest in making sure people see content.

It’s becoming increasingly clear that we can’t trust social media platforms to police themselves. That’s why it’s more important than ever for parents to be aware of what their children are doing online. The responsibility falls on us as parents to know how our kids use social media and to monitor them if necessary. As a parent, it is important to be aware of the apps your children are using and what type of content is being consumed. With TikTok being one of the most popular apps among kids, it is important to monitor their activity on the app. It is also important to talk to your kids about online safety and responsible social media use. Parents should do their research and make sure they have parental controls enabled if they want to restrict the types of videos that their children see.

Should we perhaps ban TikTok?

I don’t think that banning TikTok is the answer. We need to figure out how to make it safer for children to use. I also think that some sort of parental filter needs to be put in place so kids won’t get sucked into these dangerous games. I believe we need to continue monitoring how our children use technology because, even though TikTok has disabled the blackout challenge, there will always be new ways for kids to get themselves into trouble.

What are your thoughts?

Who is to blame? Should an 8-year-old child be on TikTok? What should parents do about TikTok? If there was a way to monitor your children while they’re using TikTok or other social media sites, would you do it?

About Maria Mac Andrew

I am a writer, social impact entrepreneur and I advocate for AI Ethics, diversity and Inclusion as well as equal access to AI technologies. I am the current COO of Adashe and Also COO and co-founder of AI ethics world.

Do take a look at my other blogs here

Follow me on LinkedIn

Want to pursue a career in artificial intelligence?Take a look at these courses here.

How to Future-Proof Your Career Against Automation and AI

Automation and the future of work

Something we’ve been hearing more about is concerns about automation and artificial intelligence taking over jobs. It seems that, one way or another, robots are coming to take your job, and there’s nothing you can do about it? But this isn’t necessarily true. In this article, I will share some tips on how to future-proof your career against automation and AI.

Whenever I hear the word automation, memories from my days as a massage therapist come rushing back. Newly married, building a home while providing for my family and siblings, this job was necessary. One day, the company brought in a massaging chair—an electronic device that mimicked hands moving across muscles—we were all ecstatic!

My passion vanished almost immediately when one of my clients had enjoyed themselves so much while using the chair.

He proclaimed to me, “Maria, you’re useless. You’ve been replaced by a chair. “

We both laughed, but his words pierced through every inch of my being. I couldn’t shake off how right he had been. What does this mean for me? What did this mean for my family, who relied on me financially? Not only did this mean my services were less valuable than before. But it also meant I’d let down the rest of my family too. Without me, they wouldn’t be able to provide for themselves or even put food on the table. That tore me apart.

Finding my way of dealing with being replaced by a machine

Being a problem solver from the time I was seven years old, it didn’t take me long to jump into solution mode. As opposed to worrying about losing my job, I focused on ways of making myself more valuable. Considering the tasks that were being performed by the tool, it became clear where my strengths lay. I had a realization of how tired the repetitive motions of giving massages made me. While it meant that people were less tense and feeling better, it wore me out beyond words. I started looking at the advantages this machine provided and then added my human touch to complement it. With more time on my hands, I found that there were always new ways to make people happy—whether they wanted someone to chat with while getting their hair done or someone who wanted a relaxing head massage while having their nails done.

As time went on, I explored other ways to automate less enjoyable tasks like booking appointments and sending follow-ups. This greatly increased our efficiency and made the organization very profitable. I became an essential asset to the company, which led me to become a co-owner. I went on to open and run two spas that combined old-school treatments with newer, innovative technologies.

 

Should you be worried about machines taking over your job?

In its simplest form, automation is the use of machines to do tasks that have traditionally been done by human beings. This can range from something as small as using a dishwasher to clean your dishes, to large-scale industrial processes that use robots to assemble products. I am aware that many people worry about whether or not their jobs will still exist in this era of automation. However, automating certain aspects of life has been going on since the dawn of technological times, and we loved it! Think back to the days when you mowed your own lawn before you got an automatic lawnmower! Nowadays, most people would rather let someone else take care of it. So, automating or replacing certain tasks may seem like nothing new after all, except that this time we are talking about our work instead of just cleaning up.

Job safety is one of the key concerns when it comes to automation and AI in the workplace. After all, if machines could do our jobs faster and cheaper, why wouldn’t companies want to replace us? Of course, many low-skill jobs are at risk of being replaced by machines or AI soon. It is understandable why some people are concerned. However, there are some things you can do to future-proof your career against automation.

 

Steps on how to future-proof your career against automation and AI

  • Firstly, focus on developing skills that are difficult to automate, such as creativity, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence.

  • Think about what other skills you could develop or learn that would greatly enhance your career. Developing new skills not only gives you new abilities but will help keep you competitive in a changing market. If nothing else, having multiple skill sets ensures that no matter what happens in the workplace, you’ll be able to adapt.

  • Be flexible and open-minded and be prepared to adapt to change and learn new skills as the workplace evolves.

  • Looking for ways to add value beyond your job description is an easy way to stay ahead of the curve.

  • Stay up-to-date with the latest technology trends. The best way to prepare yourself for a future where automation and AI have taken over is by being proactive!

Finally, avoid getting caught up in nostalgia for a world without automation. With sufficient planning and forward-thinking, it is possible to maintain a fulfilling and prosperous career into the foreseeable future. Plus, in many cases, there are things about human labor that automation just can’t replace, like empathy and creativity. These qualities should be leveraged with everything we’ve got if we’re going to compete with computers.

Thank you for reading. Do you have any additional advice on how to future-proof your career against automation and AI? Do you have concerns or any thoughts? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.  I would love to hear what you think.

 

About Maria Mac Andrew

I am a writer, social impact entrepreneur and I advocate for AI Ethics, diversity and Inclusion as well as equal access to AI technologies. I am the current COO of Adashe and Also COO and co-founder of AI ethics world.

Do take a look at my other blogs here

Follow me on LinkedIn

Want to pursue a career in artificial intelligence? Take a look at these courses.

Tokenism Diversity: Are We Merely Ticking Boxes?

Maria Mac Andrew's blog on diversity and inclusion in the workplace

Diversity and inclusion have become buzzwords that organizations use to show that they have ‘embraced’ this new way of thinking, but many critics believe that this approach does not go far enough to change people’s behavior or truly create a culture of acceptance and belonging in the workplace.

One of the biggest issues when it comes to diversity and inclusion in work environments, particularly when related to gender and race, is tokenism, the practice of including one or two people from underrepresented demographics in an effort to tick boxes and appear more inclusive and diverse than they actually are.

Tokenism can be defined as the practice of making only a perfunctory or symbolic effort to achieve diversity and inclusion, particularly when hiring new employees. Tokenism occurs when companies hire or promote an individual simply because they belong to a particular ethnic group, gender, sexual orientation group, religious affiliation group, etc., but with no expectation that they will achieve career success based on their abilities. Most often, tokenistic diversity & inclusion practices are mistaken for solutions when they actually create more harm than good.

Tokenism is different from true diversity and inclusion because it does not seek to build an inclusive culture or ensure that all employees feel valued.

It is often argued that token diversity detracts from workplace performance by creating low expectations for individuals associated with it. But others argue it’s better than no diversity at all. And most agree that true diversity requires more than just hiring a few workers who are members of groups historically underrepresented in certain professions.

Diversity requires active participation from everyone involved—and it’s imperative that these groups participate equally.

If your team is so diverse that you are simply ticking boxes, you’re probably not making much progress. You may have some employees who are happy to be included, but others will feel left out. These feelings of isolation could lead to poor performance at work. It might seem like an unfair accusation, but if it’s true, you need to figure out why that is happening and how to stop it before it has a chance to damage your business or its culture.

Many people may feel that their inclusion into a particular role or task is not due to merit but merely based on gender or skin color rather than ability. This situation may cause tension within teams who feel they were passed over for a role purely because of their gender or skin color. If left unchecked, this could potentially create high levels of animosity between employees that may stop them from working effectively together towards organizational goals.

Another negative impact of tokenism would be for those individuals given opportunities just because they are black, white, disabled, etc., rather than being able to do the job. It goes without saying that these members would struggle if placed in these roles without adequate training or support. These individuals may then become viewed negatively by colleagues, lowering team morale even further.

Employees won’t take kindly to diverse workplaces if management attempts to include minorities superficially instead of fostering an environment where everyone feels welcome and valued. We all want new technologies to incorporate ideas created by people from varying backgrounds and experiences, so let’s design our workplaces accordingly

Organizations need to find ways of encouraging people into leadership roles based on capabilities instead of solely offering access via diversity initiatives. An organization must not feel forced to include diverse staff members but instead hire, promote and reward qualified candidates regardless of race or sex. Only then will we truly see progress in terms of diversity.

How many people do you think your company could realistically hire from underrepresented groups without those new hires feeling like tokens? Perhaps those new hires were hired with an eye toward diversifying your company, and if that’s true, then I would caution against hiring too many people just because they belong to certain minority groups. Instead of worrying about how much difference you need to make, simply ask yourself: why is representation such an important part of my strategy? Is diversity something I genuinely believe is good for my business, something I want to see happen, something where inclusion is paramount? If so – great! Then keep going. The goal here is not really quantitative. It’s qualitative.

Be aware of unconscious bias: Everyone has biases—it’s a natural byproduct of being human—but acting upon those biases does not serve our customers or companies well. To mitigate these biases at work, there are a few things we can do. First, take regular inventory of who gets promoted, who gets interviewed for jobs, who gets salary increases based on merit-based factors. Second, hold monthly anonymous feedback sessions that allow your employees to share anonymous information about anything related to diversity/inclusion without retaliation. This requires trust between leadership and workers. Third, implement regular employee retention initiatives while also collecting data about turnover rates across various identity groups within your company. Doing so will help you gauge how your company is doing with respect to providing a welcoming, respectful and inclusive working environment.

Another way to find out is by having genuine conversations with all your staff members about their experiences at work. Ask them what they believe makes for tokenistic diversity, and see what issues they bring up. Then ask yourself whether any of these complaints hold merit. If there is truth to them, try addressing them head-on instead of ignoring or dismissing them.

Some businesses are starting to use blind hiring processes where job seekers cannot see information that could be used to identify their gender, age, race, or ethnicity. This is because research suggests that seeing or reading candidate demographics may influence decision-making during recruitment. If it’s not possible for candidates to provide information about themselves, there’s less chance of discrimination occurring.

The best companies implement true diversity & inclusion programs. And you know what? Diversity is okay when it’s real—not tokenistic. Remember, you can’t build a company on yes people. It would be best if you have someone to challenge your ideas, speak up against oppression, and address problems as they arise. If there aren’t diverse voices at your table from day one, how can you truly reap the benefits of a diversified team? Make diversity a priority from day one: never stop striving for a more inclusive work environment where employees feel respected and valued no matter who they are or where they come from.

If we want minority perspectives at every level of industry, we need minority representation throughout every single department—including those tasked with building cutting-edge technology like machine learning algorithms. After all, diversity really is strength: Not only does it bring together teams who reflect real-life outside office walls (where most workers spend 50+ hours per week), but diversity makes those teams more effective because perspective makes us better problem solvers.

Diversity fosters creativity, which drives innovation.

We all know that diverse teams produce better results, but there’s another reason it’s important to focus on diversity: to ensure that everyone feels included. If team members feel tokenistic or excluded, they’re less likely to be productive, which can lead to poor communication and even decreased performance for your business as a whole. We need to ensure that we’re not simply ticking boxes in an attempt to appear open-minded and progressive when in reality, we’re making little or no difference to the makeup of our work environment.

Diversity inspires learning, which drives advancement. But diversity alone doesn’t create great teams. Instead, it takes managers who are willing to actively build inclusive cultures by including everyone in goal-setting processes and performance evaluations. It takes HR departments that seek out candidates whose skills match open positions but also ones that don’t shy away from recruiting candidates with different backgrounds or lifestyles than existing employees—because meaningful diversity benefits everyone. And it takes leaders who are humble enough to realize that strong leadership is about empowering others.

Maria Mac Andrew is the head of Diversity and Communities at AI Ethics world and the Co-Founder of a Global Ethical AI Foundation.

At AI ethics World, we help businesses and communities tackle these big questions by introducing our expertise in diversity leadership strategies and training our clients to apply AI ethics into practice.

Diversity and Inclusion in AI Development Teams

Maria Mac Andrew's blog on diversity and inclusion in the workplace

According to McKinsey, companies that are gender diverse are 15% more likely to have financial returns above their respective national industry medians. Companies with ethnically diverse workforces experienced 35% higher returns than other companies in their respective industries. And according to researchers at Bain & Company, Fortune 100 companies with three or more women on their board had a 21 percent higher return on equity than other corporations.

It is essential to recognize that artificial intelligence will have an increasingly important role in global business. As AI systems grow more sophisticated, they can handle increasingly complex tasks—everything from basic data collection and pattern analysis to more advanced processes like market forecasting. However, there are some things computers just can’t do as well as humans yet. And one of those things is to deal with ethics. While we might hope our machines would operate ethically at all times, we know full well they don’t – and so does everyone else.

AI can potentially change the face of business as we know it, and those changes will occur in our top leadership positions first. That’s why diversity and inclusion should be at the forefront of every company’s strategic plan for AI adoption and implementation moving forward. AI ethics discussions need to include diverse leadership perspectives and voices to ensure that diverse and inclusive voices are heard and considered in forming ethical AI guidelines and best practices. So if you want your business to stay ahead of AI as its capabilities expand, start by ensuring you have diverse leaders at every level.

It’s no surprise that investors are seeking diversity in leadership roles. But why? What is it about diverse leadership teams that correlate to better company performance? The reasons may be surprising. It turns out there’s more to diversity than meets the eye.

First, creating an inclusive culture where everyone feels comfortable bringing their authentic selves to work each day allows employees to bring different perspectives on problem-solving. While perspectives are often regarded as something positive, it’s also important not to mistake multiple perspectives for differing viewpoints. Multiple perspectives are valuable because they mean people share different experiences based on variables like age, education level, social class background, etc. In contrast, differing viewpoints suggest that people genuinely think differently. Different backgrounds give people an informed take when brainstorming solutions.

Diversity is a risk-mitigation strategy. By cultivating unique perspectives from different groups, companies can improve decision-making across their business at large.

 Additionally, socialization into varying cultures makes room for understanding and appreciation of different ways to do things. Because we interact primarily with those who look like us or hold similar opinions (for good reason), we tend to approach tasks and experiences very similarly. This can negatively impact our ability to achieve goals because we fail to identify alternate paths toward solutions – ultimately limiting our innovation potential. We often become blinded by our own behaviors — even when they inhibit progress — before we even realize what’s happening.

For example, a woman may steer away from innovation suggestions simply because she didn’t recognize her male peers’ ideas were innovative. She’ll question whether she’s being too critical of their ideas without realizing that feedback plays a crucial role in developing new concepts. Or someone who grew up thinking women shouldn’t lead will struggle to find any value-add he receives from female leaders, regardless of what he says publicly. Such biases are hard to overcome unless all types of people are present within any given organization. That way, individual characteristics can provide benefits rather than hindrances, leading organizations to greater success over time.

Finally, with AI systems making decisions that impact our lives—such as who to hire, who to detain, who gets insurance benefits—we need diverse people creating them. This isn’t because there is a bias against minorities or women in algorithms, but rather because we have limited data on minority populations. Put another way: When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail. And if AI development follows its current path, society will end up with only one tool at its disposal for complex problems. Even if AI does learn from diversity, it can take several years for AI technologies to mature from concept to implementation across an organization. In other words, change will not happen overnight—but now is definitely the time to think about it.

 Fostering an open, forward-thinking environment that embraces diversity and inclusion begins with looking critically at your hiring process. If it’s culturally biased, your entire team is going to skew in one direction. Part of promoting diversity and inclusion involves making sure that hiring managers are aware of their own biases. It’s easy to say this person has a great attitude or they would really fit in here, but it may reflect different cultural attributes that actually make them ill-suited for success.

You need to separate perception from reality – not just how others see you but also how you see yourself. It sounds simple, but it takes work to get past these assumptions. And once hires are made, research shows that failing to acknowledge different viewpoints hinders progress. It’s not enough to hire a diverse group of people. Real progress requires accepting diversity and actively encouraging it through socialization opportunities, sponsorships, and executive-level commitment.

Diversity isn’t a goal or an end in itself. It’s simply an avenue to innovation and success that we ignore at our own peril. Not only that, but it’s the right thing to do.

Hiring diverse teams is one of the steps we can take to recognize and eliminate AI bias. According to a study done by researchers at Stanford University, Google, and New York University, commercial datasets used for machine learning often reflect the prejudices and preferences of their designers. These biases come from language and accents: if a person is not American or speaks with an accent, then their voice will likely be left out. Even search algorithms discriminate against women because they tend to ask questions that require shorter answers, favoring white men who have more spare time on their hands to do research. In addition, women’s queries tend to contain superlatives such as best and greatest, which also feed into these algorithms.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has already changed how we live, work, and play. But AI can also be used to drive diversity efforts, helping make room for more women, people of color, LGBTQ individuals—and other historically underrepresented groups—in top leadership positions.

Some AI tools make it possible for organizations to vet candidates based on set criteria such as age, education level, professional experience, skills, etc. Using these tools leaves less room for unconscious bias or discrimination against candidates based on factors like gender or ethnicity. Hiring managers can review AI-vetted candidates side by side with traditional resumes so they can base hiring decisions on fit and skills rather than name or looks. Employers looking to improve diversity and inclusion in hiring—or promote diverse employees within existing teams—can integrate such tools into existing HR systems and processes so everyone benefits from AI technology right away.

Diversity is not just a feel-good talking point; it’s proven to improve businesses by making them smarter, more innovative, better run—and more profitable. This means any company that wants to succeed should embrace diversity and inclusion as core values: The winners will be those who find ways to maximize their talent and truly reflect their customers.

It is critical that organizations define their vision for how AI fits into their long-term strategy. But more importantly, they must also explicitly state how they want their AI ethics to guide them today.

Maria Mac Andrew is the head of Diversity and Communities at AI Ethics world and the Co-Founder of a Global Ethical AI Foundation.

At AI ethics World, we help businesses and communities tackle these big questions by introducing our expertise in diversity leadership strategies and training our clients to apply AI ethics into practice.

Centuries Long Systematic Oppression on Minorities

Maria Mac Andrew's blog on diversity and inclusion in the workplace

Most people are aware of the overt forms of discrimination, such as racism, sexism, and homophobia, but few are aware of the less obvious forms that have been around since the 1800s. These ways in which minorities are treated differently have been occurring since before you were born! Here are just a few examples of how discrimination against minorities has been going on for over 100 years!

Our education system still bears much blame for systematic oppression against minorities. For decades now, there have been debates surrounding whether children should learn about slavery in schools—as if it happened so long ago that we couldn’t learn anything about how things are shaping up today.

Our colonial history has left its mark on all areas of society today. One historical example demonstrating how damaging our past behavior can be on present systems is New York’s redlining law established in 1933. Redlining laws served as rules restricting banks’ lending activities mainly to white customers with houses inside red lines drawn around certain areas where new housing construction was actively discouraged or prohibited by state or local governments through zoning laws or other regulations designed to keep neighborhoods segregated according to race. The practice began in earnest in 1933 when President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Home Owners’ Loan Corporation drew up new residential security maps for cities and metropolitan areas across America that delineated urban risk zones based on neighborhood racial composition. That meant even if a black family managed to buy a home outside these newly-drawn boundaries, they could not get a mortgage or business loan from any bank within them because many financial institutions adopted these practices. People of color were systematically excluded from many federal housing programs in favor of white households.

Redlining persisted until President Lyndon B. Johnson passed his Fair Housing Act in 1968, banning discrimination based on race or national origin. However, these discriminatory practices didn’t stop at federal level. They went beyond homeownership too. Some states had an explicit policy of excluding non-white people from living with whites. These policies persist today in some cities through zoning laws that permit only low-density neighborhoods to be built in certain areas. And some suburbs still practice exclusionary zoning by not permitting multi-family dwellings to be built outside designated zones.

Centuries of displacement have destabilized black communities and undermined their access to opportunities. A study by Stanford University found that growing up in a poor neighborhood costs children one month of learning in reading and math skills per year. The impact on students who grow up in poor neighborhoods is not an isolated event; but instead, it is often replicated across generations. When one generation of black Americans is pushed out of areas with better schools, they cannot ensure their children have access to good education. As a result, there’s evidence showing how kids from low-income families also tend to struggle academically. It’s why some academics describe how prejudice against blacks over centuries has led to marginalization and systemic deprivation that persists despite dramatic improvements for blacks as individuals.

Poor treatment toward members of other religions is another example of systematic discrimination. Jews were excluded from many European countries until the 18th century because authorities claimed they didn’t share Christian values or beliefs, which led to discrimination against them well into modern times—one commonly cited example being quotas limiting Jewish people entering universities during WWII.

This issue stems beyond just race.  Women were also subject to exclusion for centuries. As most of us know, women have faced a significant amount of systematic and cultural discrimination throughout history. From having only specific jobs and responsibilities based on their gender (such as teaching or childcare) to not being allowed to vote or work outside of their home during certain times in history, it’s no surprise that women took such a long time to obtain rights like we do today. Until relatively recently, women weren’t granted any political rights—let alone provided opportunities at school or work. Their representation in parliament remains very small compared to men.

And while young girls now outperform boys at school, gaps still exist between genders when it comes to educational attainment later on. An OECD report found that women represent about 43% of people with bachelor degrees, even though they’re typically younger than their male counterparts – showing how existing gender inequalities could affect future generations’ experiences.

But systemic racism isn’t ancient history; it’s happening right now. Thankfully, though there is still progress to be made in countries such as Saudi Arabia—where women were just recently granted permission to drive—things are starting to look up for women across much of the world. However, there is one area that continues to be a persistent problem: gender-based workplace discrimination.

Though many would assume that the recent rise of more feminine men taking leadership roles means that there’s less room for bias towards women in career fields, evidence suggests otherwise. Studies show anywhere from 2% to 9% of all female employees report experiencing gender-related hostility at work, while more than 20% of working females report experiencing some sort of pay inequality compared to their male counterparts!

According to studies done by The Council For Women, women earn about 80 cents per dollar earned by white males, which accounts for differences in occupation, industry, educational attainment, job tenure, and hours worked per week. That difference also increases over time, where new grads start around 95 cents per dollar, but after ten years of experience, they earn approximately 74 cents.

Women are subject to gender-based workplace discrimination that marginalizes them in high-paying careers, prevents their advancement, and creates a system of male dominance. One example is hiring practices. Often times employers will hire men over women simply because they are men. Studies have shown that job candidates with masculine names are more likely to be employed than candidates with feminine names.

Systematic Oppression Against BAME People

It’s no secret that work and workplace discrimination still go hand in hand. Just last year, it was revealed that Britain’s NHS had an alarming number of discriminatory practices against ethnic minority employees – most notably by unfairly firing BAME (black, Asian, and minority ethnic) people from their jobs. The statistics were astonishing. Almost half of British Asians and 36% of black workers reported experiencing workplace discrimination in 2016 alone. On top of all that, research shows that ethnicity-based bias is very much ingrained in employers themselves. A 2012 study conducted by City University London found that a huge percentage of bosses deemed black job applicants less suitable for a managerial position than non-BAME candidates. Additionally, due to structural inequality, BAME workers, in some cases, earn less money than their non-BAME counterparts for doing exactly similar jobs, which leads directly to another major issue: wage equality for ethnic minorities hasn’t existed yet.

 Although numerous studies have been conducted to assess racial biases at work, none have achieved concrete results to solve systematic racism issues. Though many companies swear they only hire based on ability and qualifications—not race—the truth is these problems aren’t hard to fix if you acknowledge there’s a problem first. So how do we resolve them? How can we make sure more BAME people are hired? More importantly, how can we stop them from being undervalued once they are hired?

Systematic Oppression Towards LGBTQ+ People

All across America, LGBTQ+ people face discriminatory hiring practices that often lead to them earning less than straight people. According to a study conducted by professor Frank Dobbin of Harvard University, about 14% of gay men and lesbians were passed over for jobs because of their sexual orientation. This kind of behavior is nothing new. On record, there is evidence that shows discriminatory behavior towards transgender people back in 1945. For example, at one point, female-to-male transgender individuals would have to leave military service if they asked to be called he instead of she or vice versa. It also became illegal for these soldiers to get sex reassignment surgery while enlisted. Fortunately, these policies have changed over time, but it seems like some attitudes haven’t. Many people still hold views against gender identity even though it shouldn’t matter what someone looks like or who they are attracted to.

Systematic Oppression in Schools

A study conducted at Columbia University found that African American students are three times more likely to be suspended than their white peers – despite facing zero evidence that they commit crimes more often than anyone else. Moreover, because students of color tend to lack access to educational resources compared with their white counterparts, unfair discipline disproportionately impacts youth of color. When teachers and administrators notice a trend among minority students being referred for disciplinary action, they respond by issuing harsher punishments or policies that further perpetuate inequality. Furthermore, black men are 21% less likely to go to college compared with white men even though research shows college graduates make twice as much money as those without degrees over time—meaning black people stand to lose out on an enormous sum each year by not getting into college or dropping out early enough.

University of New Hampshire sociology professor Paul G. Solman recently wrote an interesting column for The Washington Post about how minority students are often targets of systematic oppression in universities. As it turns out, even at elite institutions, blacks and Latinos are considerably less likely to study with faculty than whites or Asians. Moreover, even within departments that hire black professors, fewer opportunities arise for contact between minority students and faculty (Solman). When minority students are marginalized by systematic oppression in universities, they cannot reach their full potential.

It is time for us to realize that systematic oppression is still taking place today. Without proper education of citizens about these issues, little progress will be made towards ending systematic oppression throughout all levels of our society.  I am sure something can be done before another generation gets lost.

The more systematic oppression towards any group continues, the more opportunities are lost for everyone involved. To think that our society can move forward when groups of different identities are being discriminated against every day is scary because there will always be differences between us. We may see an end to racism soon, with many people accepting others regardless of skin color, but other forms of systematic oppression towards specific groups might not disappear for hundreds of years unless something drastic happens soon. Hopefully, things change soon before history repeats itself yet again. Until then, we should learn from past mistakes, so we don’t repeat them ever again.

Microaggressions and Everyday Workplace Discrimination

Maria Mac Andrew's blog on diversity and inclusion in the workplace

The saying “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me” is popular because it emphasizes that physical abuse lasts longer than verbal abuse. But words do hurt. Microaggressions are everyday verbal, nonverbal, and environmental slights, snubs, or insults that communicate hostile, derogatory, or harmful messages to target persons based solely upon their marginalized group membership. Microaggressions are often subtler than explicit racism or sexism, but they can be equally destructive and are particularly pernicious because they can be so easy to communicate without conscious intent.

Microaggressions are damaging because they’re often framed as compliments or well-meaning statements but actually imply something negative about someone else’s identity. They are delivered with enough pressure to make someone feel uncomfortable—but not enough to make it clear there was anything wrong with what was said or done. Over time, microaggressions can make workers in a multicultural environment feel isolated or even hopeless when they don’t get support from managers when addressing discriminatory behavior at work. It also causes them to question their place in an organization where even simple things like posting pictures of friends on your desk invites comments from others about how that doesn’t look diverse.

If you’re like most people, you probably recognize what microaggressions are not—in other words, what they don’t look like. But if you can identify what they are—even just one or two that resonate with you—it becomes easier to identify microaggressions in your workplace.

Here are a few common types of microaggressions

Slights: These happen all too often at work, but sometimes it’s hard to pinpoint why something felt so offensive. These usually go back to assumptions or other stereotypes about a group of people. They can be as overt as asking someone where they were born or as subtle as expecting an employee to take on extra responsibilities because she is a woman. You could also think of slights as offenses that seem innocuous when said out loud but add up over time for employees who experience them frequently.

Internalized Microaggressions: It’s essential to recognize how these manifest themselves in our own actions. Perhaps there is an assumption made about how men vs. women talk in meetings, which makes women less likely to speak up for fear of being reprimanded by their colleagues.

The Problem of Not Having Policies That Allow Employees to Confront Discomfort

Unfortunately, many workplaces aren’t set up to foster conversations around discomfort. A few avenues may allow a single person or small group of employees to express concerns directly with management, but most environments aren’t set up for confronting discomfort between coworkers – especially if those comments offend others. Even more concerning is that some companies actually discourage confrontation – going as far as having policies against it – even though research shows accountability drives increased retention rates and promotes higher performance overall.

Attracting and retaining the best and brightest talent in today’s global, multicultural, multiracial workforce can be challenging. But a critical aspect of diversity and inclusion in the workplace is encouraging employees to feel empowered to speak up when something doesn’t seem fair or right—whether that means pointing out when an employee isn’t getting fair treatment or making sure that coworkers understand that microaggressions and everyday workplace discrimination are never okay.

 

Managing Microaggressions When They Happen

Microaggressions have been shown to have negative physical and psychological effects on recipients, including increased stress levels. Companies must ensure employees have the proper training to handle these situations quickly before toxic relationships take root among coworkers.

One important aspect of diversity and inclusion in the workplace is encouraging employees to feel empowered to speak up when something doesn’t seem fair or right. If you notice something, say something! That’s not only how emergency drills work—it’s also a good way to ensure that your company culture embraces different perspectives. And it could mean standing up for yourself if you face microaggressions from colleagues who don’t want to accept difference.

This includes providing employee training that addresses how to deal with microaggressions and everyday workplace discrimination and how to navigate complex situations without becoming overly emotional or defensive while also ensuring that your organization doesn’t discriminate against its own multiracial workforce. Unfortunately, there are few resources to help people do this—and many people don’t even realize there’s an issue.

One way to empower your employees is to give them a safe space in which they can manage microaggressions when they happen. If an employee is offended by another worker’s comment, you should encourage them to discuss it privately with that person. During your monthly meetings, you can include an activity where employees anonymously write down examples of microaggressions they experience daily. Then, take time for everyone to share their comments as a group. These exercises will help make microaggressions part of everyday conversation—and help address them from earlier stages in your organization.

It’s also critical to involve leaders in these conversations. After each example, ask each leader how they would respond if something similar happened at their team level. Consider including these teachable moments in your training program to develop inclusive leadership across your company culture. Remember: You don’t have to fire people for minor offenses like microaggressions, but creating awareness around how offensive language affects others often has more impact than punishing someone who says something inappropriate. The goal here isn’t simply remediation; it’s changing behavior into one that benefits both employers and employees alike through increased communication and understanding of cultural differences.

It isn’t always easy, but everyone needs to be involved if companies are going to diversify effectively. Be wary of situations where diversity programs feel forced or tokenistic instead of making real progress toward workplace equality across all departments. Encourage your entire workforce—not just upper management—to embrace diversity efforts, so everyone feels empowered enough to step up for change.

Given that diversity programs can take years before delivering results, having allies who support diversity initiatives right from the start is essential. These individuals can be invaluable advocates for change by helping new staff integrate into existing teams and encouraging new ideas that enhance organizational diversity efforts. Whether through training sessions focused on diversity and inclusion topics, employee resource groups, or one-on-one conversations, creating opportunities for sharing creates a safe space for everyone to feel included. This helps staff understand how they fit into a multiracial workforce and encourages them to bring more of themselves into work each day. These efforts also send a strong message about expected behavior throughout your organization: It’s important to respect people’s differences while treating others fairly regardless of race/ethnicity, gender identity/expression, religion/spirituality, disability status, or sexual orientation/gender identity.

So, let’s work together to spread awareness about everyday discrimination and empower employees to speak up when they see something happening.

The Importance of Diversity and Inclusion in Top Leadership Positions

Maria Mac Andrew's blog on diversity and inclusion in the workplace

You’ve heard the adage “diversity is strength” before, but what does that mean?

Diversity is defined as the combination of differences, whether cultural, individual, or by any other grouping. This includes gender identity or sexual orientation, race or ethnicity, socioeconomic status, educational background, religious beliefs, age groups. Although diversity has long been linked to race or gender, true diversity requires more than one or two types of individuals working together successfully.

Diversity, in leadership terms, is all about inclusion. It’s about having a team with members from different backgrounds, experiences, and cultures, people who can bring diverse perspectives to your organization. This isn’t limited to gender or ethnicity either; cognitive diversity has proven to be an asset, too. It means including people who think differently than you in key decision-making roles.

When leaders value diversity and inclusion in their organizations, they position themselves to work smarter and faster through collaboration between teams and employees who have different ways of thinking about things.

It’s no secret that diversity and inclusion are growing more and more critical. Despite recent leaps in diversity, there’s still plenty of room for improvement. That said, it’s important to note that there have been significant strides for specific groups. For example, according to McKinsey & Company, 50% of U.S.-based entry-level management jobs are now held by women—up from just 15% three decades ago! These advances will likely continue as more diverse teams perform better.

Here’s why diversity in leadership is essential. It creates inclusive cultures, improves our businesses, and makes us better as people. Diversity makes you stronger, more productive, and more successful as an organization by bringing together people with different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Diversity also helps reduce unconscious bias in leadership positions, which helps to create an environment where all employees feel comfortable sharing their ideas—and where your business can benefit from those ideas. Diverse leadership teams make decisions based on multiple perspectives, giving employees different ideas to share than they would if they were only hearing thoughts from one perspective.

Apart from being a more ethical business decision, diversifying your leadership team will also give you a competitive advantage. The reality is that people are still far more likely to trust an organization whose leadership includes people who look like them, sound like them, or share their cultural experiences. In other words, diversity increases public trust in businesses and technology companies—and when consumers trust a brand, they tend to buy from them over their competitors.

A study performed by Catalyst found that companies with greater levels of diversity were 35% more likely to outperform others in profitability over five years than companies without women at top management levels. When companies have leaders that represent all parts of their customer base, they tend to perform better financially in the long term because they understand their customer base more accurately, resulting in better products and services that appeal to all groups.

Diverse leadership teams have been shown to create an environment where employees feel safe taking risks, voicing concerns, and offering new ideas. This enhances creativity, productivity, morale, innovation, and engagement among employees—all factors that can improve a company’s bottom line. A 2015 McKinsey report found that companies in the top quartile for gender diversity are 15% more likely to have financial returns above their respective national industry medians

One problem that plagues modern business leaders is groupthink, which occurs when team members develop similar worldviews due to spending so much time with each other. This can result in poor decision-making. Fortunately, diverse team members encourage differing points of view among group members—leading to more productive outcomes.

It’s easy to see how having a diverse team on your executive team could help your company better prepare for current and future challenges. There’s no time like now to begin recruiting diverse leaders into critical roles. After all, what good is being future-proof if none of your leaders remember tomorrow?

The world has changed dramatically over the past decades. With such dramatic changes occurring so rapidly within countries, “cultural sensitivity” becomes increasingly essential without inadvertently appearing ethnocentric or culturally biased towards specific groups. Cultural norms differ widely across nations and societies. Like biology (which determines genotype), culture influences behavior.

Diversity tends to bring a variety of experiences and insights into a single conversation.

We need to act today rather than wait until later because implicit bias issues cloud many decision-making skills. Often, including diversity among leaders makes excellent business sense since different viewpoints generally result in superior outcomes (at least).

Nature teaches us that diversity is vital for survival. Though it’s easy to think about diversity as a human concern, it holds true for many species as well. If we look at nature, we see that diverse ecosystems are resilient. If you live on planet Earth, then chances are you agree that diversity is key to life on our planet: We need a wide variety of plants and animals to keep our planet alive and thriving. There are different types of butterflies, birds, fish, and mammals that it’s difficult to see how they could possibly coexist. Yet they do. Diversity promotes balance. There is beauty in diversity that makes everything function together harmoniously. Diversity is just as important in business as it is in nature. Diversity is crucial for innovation and may prove essential if we hope to solve our most pressing societal issues.