27 Nov 2020

Diversity Lens - Issue 54

Diversity Lens - Issue 133 Diversity Lens - Issue 132 Diversity Lens - Issue 131

Nov 27

Diversity Lens - Issue 54

Welcome to Diversity Lens

Diversify your news consumption.

IN A RUSH?
This week, take a look at the men opening up about their mental health on a popular talkshow. In other news, new troubling research on the wellbeing of young British Muslims; an LGBTQ+ education project is cut; and a new Labour disability representative is elected. Scroll down for our final inspirational person this Islamophobia Awareness Month.

LATEST NEWS

Young British Muslims are 'suffocated leading double lives' and 'angry at racism'
Six Muslim women have conducted a series of interviews concerning Muslim identity and conclude that mental health in the community is a "growing crisis". 'The Inner Lives of Troubled Young Muslims' report states that the number of people in the Muslim community seeking mental health support is on the rapid increase. However, systematic racism has caused many in the community to distrust these services, thus perpetuating the problem. Caught between trying to live up to traditional expectations whilst enduring everyday racism from non-Muslims (which has now come to be expected), these young people are vulnerable and in crisis.
Read more... (4 minutes)

LGBTQ+ bullying projects in schools have been axed by the UK government

The Homophobic, Biphobic and Transphobic Challenge Fund had been in place since 2004, offering teachers and children training and workshops to stem the bullying of LGBTQ+ pupils. The programme was expected to be extended, however the government has pulled its funding. Providers of the workshops are just as shocked by this as parents with one anonymous consultant describing feeling “ignored” and “shut out” by this withdrawal of support to the LGBTQ+ community. Only 27% of secondary school students say their school would be safe for LGBTQI individuals to come out. The government Equalities Office claim they are reevaluating the effectiveness of the programme.
Read more... (1.5 minutes)

Activist wins historic election to new Labour role and calls on party to end discrimination
In a history-making win, Ellen Morrison has been elected as the first disabled members’ representative on Labour’s national executive committee (NEC). She pledges to "not sit quietly at the table", ready to challenge the party on preconceived notions and outright discrimination of the disabled community. Amongst the issues she intends to raise, Morrison will focus on improving the accessibility of party activity and campaign material for those with disabilities; lobbying for support and resources to encourage more disabled leaders; and voicing her perspective loudly on party policies that affect disabled people.
"I’m from our movement and I’ll fight for our movement."
Read more... (5 minutes)

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION INSIGHTS

You Can't Say Anything Anymore!: New podcast episode

As November comes to a close, we reflect on the events of the summer with the Black Lives Matter movement and what organisations can do to support D&I. BAME Recruitment CEO and founder, Cynthia Davis chats with our Head of Talent Acquisition Andrew Brown about their best practices, tips and tricks from a recruiter's perspective to make impactful change. They share their thoughts and experience with tokenistic gestures, interrogating one's own biases, and more insightful topics.

Why is age not part of diversity and inclusion?
As the implementation of diversity initiatives in the workplace has become more imperative, one minority tends to be overlooked. While age in theory should be part of D&I initiatives, practically there is a cultural bias towards recruiting candidates over a certain age. A conservative approach, an obsolete skill set and a failure to 'culturally connect' to a young workforce are all unsaid excuses to why this discrimination remains common and is rarely challenged. Psychology Today's Lawrence Samuel asks why this is.
Read more... (1 minute)

10 Stories to make a difference
Pop Up Projects has launched a Crowdfunder for a unique publishing project to mark their 10th birthday in 2021. The campaign will fund the production of 10 Stories to Make a Difference, a collection of ten original illustrated stories for young readers created through collaborations between established and emerging writers and illustrators. This beautifully illustrated collection supports Pop Up's mission to feature a rich diversity of voices, experiences and themes in children's books. Donors will also be the first to receive their own copy of Ten Stories books after publication. Sales of the books will be reinvested in Pop Up’s wider education, community and talent development work, so each donation is also a pledge of support for our work with children and young people. Pledge your donation here.

EVENTS

Workplace Allyship: Promoting BAME Inclusivity - Did you miss our event?

Did you enjoy our panel event this week? In partnership with Avanade, we facilitated a brilliantly insightful discussion around BAME inclusion and allyship in the workplace, with some excellent audience participation. We heard from D&I experts sharing their lived experiences, top ally tips, and best practices for setting up networks. If you missed out on the live event, you can catch up here!

STORY OF THE WEEK

ITV's Loose Men discuss mental health on International Men's Day

The ITV talk show Loose Women was temporarily rebranded as Loose Men last week in honour of International Men's Day. Marvin Humes from JLS took over the anchor seat alongside presenter Ronan Keating, radio DJ Roman Kemp and Love Island narrator Iain Stirling. The group openly discussed their experiences with mental health and therapy, and the difficulties they have personally faced when speaking honestly about these issues, publicly or personally.

Marvin reveals some of the shocking statistics related to men's wellbeing. 12 men take their own lives everyday - the most common cause of death for men between 20-40 years of age. Ronan Keating opens up about the therapy that he relies on when he finds himself struggling. They discuss the generational norms that they grew up with when any display of emotion was often seen as a weakness and departure from manhood. Now they encourage these conversations to start happening in schools so that wellbeing practices become learned behaviour from a young age. Read more... (3 minutes)

FEATURED VIDEO

Black transgender artists come together to grieve the deadliest year on record & express hope

"This creative project addresses the reality of the present, which deals with a painful past, and looks to a more hopeful future."

INSPIRATIONAL PERSON OF THE WEEK

Islamophobia Awareness Month Edition.

Amani Al-Khatahtbeh

"I grew up under one of the most Islamophobic eras in modern history."

At the age of nine, Amani Al-Khatahtbeh first became aware of the widely held discrimination against her and the Muslim community. Growing up in the hostile atmosphere of a post 9/11 world, she became hyperaware of her ‘difference’. Her parents as business owners faced vandalisation and the threat of eviction. At 13-years-old, the family moved from the US to Jordan and after a tricky transition period, Al-Khatahtbeh went from hiding her Muslim identity to falling in love with the culture and religion.

“[I] decided to start wearing the headscarf to reclaim my identity that Islamophobia was trying to push away from me.”

After moving back to the US, she launched MuslimGirl.com in 2009 to reclaim the narrative on Islam and create a safe space for people experiencing the same things. The site now has a huge non-Muslim following also and Al-Khatahtbeh recognises the site now as a resource for greater understanding of the community.