19 Oct 2021

Diversity Lens - Issue 98

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Oct 19

Diversity Lens - Issue 98

Welcome to Diversity Lens.
Diversifying your news consumption.

Monday marked National Coming Out Day, a yearly celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community and the life-affirming decision to share your identity with the people around you.

But for most LGBTQIA+ people, coming out is a continuous process. It doesn’t end after that initial disclosure – rather, when making a new friend, starting a new job, or correcting a pronoun for the first (or tenth) time, you're faced with that moment and that vulnerability all over again. With more than a third of LGBTQIA+ people still hiding who they are at work, National Coming Out Day reminds us all of the importance of creating inclusive environments where every identity can be celebrated.

STORY OF THE WEEK

"Day of the Girl is critical, but support is needed year-round, say campaigners "
The Guardian

WomenRise, an initiative by artist Maliha Abidi

International Day of the Girl took place on Monday, a day to raise awareness of girls' rights around the world. While observing this day is really important, campaigners urge for long-term action to combat the harm the pandemic has inflicted.

The theme this year is 'closing the digital gender gap'. Throughout the world, men are up to 50% more likely to access the internet than women; we see this manifest in the UK by the lack of women in tech roles compared to men.

Closing the gender digital divide is about more than internet access however.

It's about investing in girls' education, encouraging engagement in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) subjects from school and right the way through to a career.

The pandemic has tragically stalled many forward-thinking initiatives that have been launched in previous years.

We're just scratching the surface when it comes to the rights of girls, "caught in between the categories of women’s rights and children’s rights" and we're currently risking a rollback on issues such as child marriage and period poverty.

“There is always a risk that girls’ rights becomes an add-on. So these mainstream peaks in engagement on days like today have really helped change attitudes.

Forward

IN OTHER NEWS...

Anti-LGBT+ hate crime is spiralling across Britain, worrying police figures confirm

Figures over the last 6 years reveal that homophobic hate crimes reported in the UK have tripled, while transphobic hate crimes have quadrupled. A sharp rise was reported during the lockdown period in which LGBTQIA+ people were targeted.

Furthermore, it is important to note that just 10% of hate crimes against the queer community are reported, thus accurate numbers are likely to be much larger.
Read time: 4 minutes

UNICEF report finds that 1 in 7 young people live with diagnosed mental health disorder

The 2021 State of the World’s Children report took youth mental health as its central focus, and the available support. UNICEF found that suicide was the 5th most prevalent cause of death for 10-19-year-olds, rising to the 3rd for young girls. 1 in 7 of this age group live with a diagnosed mental disorder; they urge for immediate action to better support our young people.
Read time: 4.5 minutes

"With the persistence of stigma in communities, says UNICEF, young people are discouraged from seeking treatment for mental health conditions."

Black scientists say UK research is institutionally racist

The Royal Society, reporting on the ethnicity of STEM subjects in the UK, found that 6.5% of Black people who begin research drop out, compared with 3.8% white students. Black people make up 1.7% of research staff, a number no where near representative of our society.

A researcher at Imperial College believes it to be institutional racism that "manifests itself subtly" but significantly in these circles.

Read time: 9 minute s

THIS WEEK IN D&I...

41% feel being a parent has held them back at work

A recent Working Families survey found that 35% of parents believe that having caring responsibilities holds them back from promotions, rising to 41% for mums. Furthermore, 38% of respondents said that the people who work the longest hours are "the most respected by senior leaders".
These outdated working practices persist in some organisations, yet to embrace the advent of flexible working and a healthy work-life balance.

Read time: 3.5 minutes

"85% of working parents told us that they would prioritise work life balance when looking for their next role.”

Just one in three black candidates feel recruitment agencies are fair, poll finds

As a D&I recruitment and consultancy organisation, we know all too well the distrust in mainstream recruitment agencies. A Business in the Community (BITC) report found that just a third of Black respondents thought they were treated fairly, a decrease in the previous years' findings. Recruitment agencies should be setting an example, but their culture and processes are often outdated, exclusive, and biased.

Read time: 4 minutes

Pride in Education 4 - Learning Together

The eagerly awaited two day virtual conference is approaching (October 22nd-23rd).
The conference will focus on LGBTQIA+ inclusion in education and will platform a diverse range of voices, speaking on how they "foster the best environment for their identities". Gain valuable knowledge and resources to create inclusive spaces and diversify curriculums. Join for free.