If you can see it, you can be it

Learning more about the concepts of having a double consciousness, and the insights on diversity & inclusion brought me to the question: What does representation mean for people with a minority identity? Representation to me means that there is someone in a group that says We on behalf of the We, as well as portraying the We. “We” in a sense of shared ethnic or cultural background.

I hypothesise that the concept of double consciousness and representation are interrelated. I propose that a lack of representation has a negative effect on diversity & inclusion and it could stimulate double consciousness.

It is about seeing what you can become

Louis Hamilton, 7th-time world champion, and first black driver in the Formula 1.

Serena Williams 23 glam slam winner in women's tennis.

Barack Obama, the first black president of the United States.

First, some context. In my PhD research, I define diversity as the recognition of the plurality of identity. Inclusion, as the recognition that these different identities are equal. In general, the rules of a group are decided by the norm, and that is where things becomes challenging. It means that to successfully reach diversity and inclusion within a group, whether that’s in an organisation or in society, it’s important that all members share the same values regarding Diversity and Inclusion. This all starts with awareness and understanding.

It’s hard to measure whether this recognition of multiple identities exists. Hence, the challenge for organisations to implement and measure successful D&I policies. To assist us, representation is an integral part of working towards successfully adopting diversity and inclusion. Another, as we’ll discuss shortly, is double consciousness. For the spectator, representation acknowledges the plurality of identity in a given group. It demonstrates the groups ability to not just understand that multiple identities exist, and not only the norm’s identity, but also include these identities in the group. Especially regarding the latter, representation is a helpful instrument in judging the level of inclusion in the group.

Recognition

The importance of representation is underestimated because the status quo doesn't always understand how important it is to recognise yourself in different positions or realize what it means to see what you can become. It is perceiving someone who looks like you who’s a lawyer or working at a top position at an international company. It’s understanding that being the president of the United States is a possibility or becoming a 7th-time world champion in a white dominated sport. Representation shows the prospect of what you can become.

On the other hand, not being represented or experiencing only the negative side of representation, such as only being represented through stereotypes in the media, stimulates no recognition. It is not building towards a brighter future. It is keeping people with minority identities small instead of letting them think big. If you only find representation in the criminal stereotype, then those people probably will only be influenced by that kind of status and that kind of future. Simply for the reason that, that is what they know. Thus, a lack of representation could stimulate double consciousness when the minority identities don’t recognise themselves in the dominant culture.

Accepting & recognising

Double consciousness is a concept in social philosophy created by W.E. E Du Bois. It explains a dichotomy of consciousness, a split identity which consists out of two parts: the declaration and the judgment. The identity declaration, the own consciousness, is that of a human being worthy of respect. However, since there’s a constant pressure of judgment from the norm, this subject has a constant fear that the person’s identity is not good enough. The identity judgment made by the norm was, historically, the observation that the minority is not good enough, and they are not equal compared to the status quo. This causes the disorientation of who you truly are, and it makes it difficult to develop a sense of self.

No representation could stimulate that minority identities don’t feel good enough about their identity, because they can’t see what they can be. The group in case, led by the norm, shows that it has not opened itself up for representation by different identities. Therefore, the minority could judge it to be not diverse. This lack of inclusion leads the minority to assume that there is also no inclusion. Not representing multiple identities in different parts such as politics, the police, or in boards of companies shows that we are not recognising those different identities.

Think about it, those different identities are there. How is it possible that we don’t see representation in different sections of society? Why is it hard to find people in certain positions of affluence that are clearly and openly different from the norm’s identity?

If you can see it, you can be it

On that note, I’d like to present awareness & understanding as tools for improving D&I efforts. It all starts with that. Those are the key concepts in diversity & inclusion because it helps us indicate how we can change today. In order to be more diverse and inclusive, the status quo has to empathise, and accept minority identities who fall outside the norm. To avoid double consciousness, we can work towards more representation.

I think that is indicative of the problem: a lack of representation implies a lack of recognition of multiple identities by the norm. This is, in other words, a lack of diversity and it implies a lack of inclusion. A lack of representation shows us what’s missing in this equation: the acceptance of multiple identities in relation to the recognition and the adoption of minorities to the group. Acceptance literally means “to not change something”.

Without acceptance, the norm (by default) consciously or unconsciously tries to change everyone outside the norm. Thus, we have to empathise with the other, stimulate acceptance of the identity of all as part of the shared context. It is by doing this that we can build representation in different aspects of society such as organisations. If not, we are simply cloning our preferred identity. This, I hope, is not what we are aiming for.

More on that in the next article.