Episode 32
The DEI Dog Whistle and The Real Meaning Behind the Backlash
Summary:
Explore the complexities of DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) with Dr. Jim as he unravels its misconceptions and political manipulation. Dr. Jim talks about how DEI is often misrepresented as a threat and coded as racial preference, while the true beneficiaries are revealed as primarily white women and veterans. Discover the underlying socio-political dynamics driving the anti-DEI movement and how dismantling these initiatives could limit opportunities for marginalized groups and non-elite whites alike. A critical examination of societal equity and its impact on diverse communities awaits.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to DEI and Dog Whistles
00:57 The Right-Wing Narrative on DEI
01:49 How DEI Works in Practice
02:20 Misconceptions and Real Beneficiaries of DEI
02:52 Case Study: JD Vance and DEI
03:47 The Anti-DEI Movement
04:25 Impact on Non-Elite Whites
05:30 Conclusion: The Real Losers of Anti-DEI Policies
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Music Credit: Good_B_Music
Mentioned in this episode:
Left in Exile Intro
Left in Exile Intro
Transcript
Dr. Jim: When we think about coded language and dog whistles, there is no bigger dog whistle today than the acronym D E I.
E I refers to diversity, equity, and inclusion. And what's interesting is that no one will come out directly and use the full words and say, I am against diversity, eq-uity, and inclusion, because if you were to come out and say that.
You would look completely ridiculous. Who would be opposed to having a di-verse business environment? Who would be against having a diverse business environment? Who would be against having an equitable? Work environment who would be against having an inclusive work environment?
Only the most silly of people would say, I am opposed to those things.
And let's be clear about how [:It is just a coded way of saying Black because the narrative around DEI from right wing circles is that DEI means unqualified.
And they've tied that through the narrative that they have had to working class Americans by saying, The reason why you are having trouble finding jobs is because of unqualified black people or unqualified immigrants taking those jobs from you.
And that fundamentally is completely wrong, but when you're dealing with an uninformed voter base that doesn't know any better or isn't interested in know-ing any better. That tracks. And that is why there is this level of backlash against DEI.
Now, how does DEI actually work in practice? DEI isn't a quota system.
it actually works is that if [:But is that how DEI has actually worked? If you ask the average person who is anti DEI and you ask them, who's the beneficiary, they're automatically going to say it's a it's minorities and black people that benefit from DEI.
The data tells a completely different story.
While DEI was created to give more access to opportunities for underrepresent-ed groups. Who actually benefited white women were the biggest beneficiaries and over 40 white men and veterans in particular, were the biggest segments that benefited from DEI initiatives,
and you have the perfect example of a DEI winner in the case of JD Vance.
Went [:He's pulling up the ladder on every one Everyone else that could have taken ad-vantage of DEI policies to build a better life because he doesn't believe that you should have access to it.
And that is typically what happens when you're talking about any of these poli-cies, white people in general. Take advantage of the policies through a number of different ways. And when they have achieved a level of success, they remove access to these opportunities from everybody else that could benefit.
Really, objective-ly, is not [:That is the use case for why DEI needs to exist. So that everybody has an equal shot. At getting that opportunity. Why is there this open assault on DEI? The open assault on DEI exists because too many of the non elite whites are rising to a level that the elite whites don't want them in. The broligarchy, the millionaire and billionaire class do not want you sitting at their table. That table is reserved for old money and the billionaire and millionaire class and no matter how much you achieve.
o sit at that table. That is [:So for all of you who have benefited greatly from DEI, and I'm speaking specif-ically to white women, white men and women over 40 and white veterans.
This is an attack on you because they don't want you in the same spaces that they're in. So when this goes away, it's going to be you that is most impacted. And you know, what else is interesting to learn? When you look at the data, the demographic that saw the least amount of gain from DEI and affirmative action, black women followed by black men.
These programs were designed to benefit the historically marginalized groups within the U. S. And when you think about who has been most historically mar-ginalized, it has been the black community.
fited the least from DEI and [:So while you may be cheering that DEI is going away, understand it's going to be you that is impacted by it because it's closing off entire segments of opportu-nities from you. It's preventing you from getting to the next stage and creating a better life for you and for your kids.
This is the billionaire and millionaire class and the broligarchy doing a full frontal attack on your opportunity for a better life. The quicker you understand that the better off you're going to be.
