26 Definitions
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Overview
STEM fields have long witnessed a lack of diversity and inclusion. To date, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color continue to be underrepresented in STEM fields across all levels of industry and academia. While equity, diversity, and inclusion mean different things for different people, this chapter defines these terms in the context of how the NSERC website describes them.
Sections in this chapter
- Equity
- Equality
- Diversity
- Inclusion
Equity
Equity means fairness; it is to ensure processes such as allocating resources, policies, and decision making are fair to everyone irrespective of their identity. It reinforces a commitment to provide equal opportunities by eliminating discrimination, systemic barriers, and disparities to the best degree possible. Equity is the process that recognizes that to have access to similar opportunities, different people will require different kinds of support.
Equality
While equity is a process, equality is the result meaning treating everybody the same; ensuring the different behaviours, aspirations and needs of people are considered, valued, and favoured equally. Equity is required to achieve equality.
Diversity
Diversity consists of demographic mix of community identified by age, education, sexual orientation, parental status/responsibility, immigration status, Indigenous status, religion, disability, language, race, place of origin, ethnicity, culture, socioeconomic status, and other attributes.
Inclusion
Inclusion is the creation of an environment where everyone feels welcome, respected, have access to the same opportunities, can fully participate, maximize their creativity and contributions. While an inclusive group is diverse, a diverse group is not necessarily inclusive. Diversity is only a checklist activity if there is no inclusion. Inclusion in the study/workplace means being able to identify and remove systemic barriers that inhibit participation and contribution while making conscious effort to be welcoming to everyone.
