politics
The Jason Arday affair must not spell the end for diversity. Here’s how – and why – we should defend it
The scandal has given succour to the same old rightwing attacks on D&I, but companies that do it properly raise standards rather than lowering them
TL;DR
- The Jason Arday affair has been used by rightwing media and politicians to attack diversity and inclusion (D&I) efforts.
- Academics felt Arday was appointed to Cambridge based on his backstory rather than academic merit.
- True D&I involves valuing diverse experiences and perspectives to improve decision-making and organizational effectiveness.
- Opening hiring to diverse communities leads to more competition and higher standards.
- Positive action helps underrepresented groups, while positive discrimination (quotas) lowers standards and is illegal in the UK.
- The Arday situation has unfairly cast a shadow over Black academics, suggesting they only get top jobs with extraordinary backstories.
- Genuine D&I requires examining recruitment and retention processes, not just symbolic appointments.
- Efforts to roll back equality and racial justice have been ongoing, with some companies caving in.