Diversity is, essentially, the existence of variety. It is the opposite of uniformity and sameness. Diversity in a group of people simply means that there is variety in their identities.
Most frequently, when people talk about diversity, they are referring to variety in terms of race and/or ethnicity. However, diversity is much more complex than this. Diversity can also mean variety in religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, and nationality, for example. Diversity could refer to variety in educational attainment, economic circumstance, political affiliation, and general worldview.
Various studies show that higher levels of diversity in organizations/business correlate with better job performance, higher profits, and increases in productivity. Diversity is a competitive advantage. It is a critical tool for problem solving as it provides unique angles and multiple perspectives from the breakroom to the boardroom. The more diverse the people are in the room where decisions are made, the more nuanced and well rounded said decisions can be.
Diversity is not just a buzz word, it is a critical first step in providing people from all walks of life an equitable opportunity and life, dignity, and success.
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