Amira Barger shares four common arguments against DEI and how to dismantle them on episode 525 of the Teaching in Higher Ed podcast.

Many people who are at the margins often know from lived experience that the playing field is not level, and that there are biases that leaders and individuals across any and every institution have to mitigate.

Many people tend to view the work of diversity, equity, and inclusion as this sort of a 0 sum game. That idea of we’re lifting someone else up means you have to push or bring someone else down. And that’s not at all what we’re trying to do this work.

It really is about leveling the playing field. It’s not about taking things away, but it’s about understanding.

What are you creating so that others can see themselves represented in the spaces they’re in with you?

I try to very intentionally surround myself with people who believe and think differently than I do so that I can understand where they are coming from.