Mattel launched the first Barbie with autism this week. She features noise-canceling headphones, a fidget spinner, a tablet (AAC-like), movable elbows and wrists (for hand movements/stimming), and eyes that look slightly to the side (referring to less direct eye contact). The doll was developed in collaboration with the Autistic Self...
Why freedom is never safe when love is suspect – LGBTQ+ rights under pressure in Slovakia In Slovakia, Prime Minister Robert Fico and his coalition want to try to rewrite the constitution. Under the guise of protecting "national identity," they want to establish dual gender rights and require schools to discuss...
The government doesn't need to have a preference for someone's identity. But denying it is not neutrality – it's a choice against recognition. It sounds so civilly phrased: a neutral government as the key to mutual respect. But the argument made by Geert-Jan Edelenbosch (Trouw, June 13) mostly conceals a stubborn...
LGBTIQ+ rights are once again on the political bargaining table The Dutch government has updated its travel advisory for LGBTIQ+ individuals traveling to the United States. It no longer states that laws and values in the U.S. are comparable to those in the Netherlands. On the contrary, the message now is...
The news that Harvard University has renamed its DEI office to the “Office of Community and Campus Life” — as reported by The New York Times — may at first glance seem like a simple restructuring. But anyone who reads between the lines, or simply knows the context, can see:...
Modern discrimination is a system – a kind of name-calling without words. A mosque that, year after year, has to explain where its donation money comes from. A general practitioner who receives questions about payments from foreign patients. A Muslim who has to justify a bank transfer during Ramadan. It’s not a...
Lately, it feels like we’ve collectively landed in an episode of Black Mirror: opinion pieces, news reports, and analyses warning us about an American anti-DEI wave that will inevitably reach our shores. The suggestion? That diversity, equity, and inclusion in the Netherlands and Europe could be thrown out the window...
Five years ago, after the murder of George Floyd, companies tripped over each other to declare their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). “We’re becoming an anti-racist company!” shouted Uber.“We’re tackling structural inequality!” promised Best Buy. Fast forward to 2025, and what do we see? Those same companies are now hastily...
Recently, the Algemeen Dagblad published an interview with me, conducted by Edwin van der Aa, about the erratic course that some American companies are taking with regard to diversity. Where brands such as McDonald’s and Harley-Davidson in the US are scaling back their DEI ambitions, we are seeing a growing...
Diversity and inclusion are growing in popularity not just in the sphere of politics but also in the world of business. Besides the popularity, a growing expectation is emerging, spurred on by evidence showing that D&I are powerful tools for creating economic prosperity. With the bar set high, implementing these...
Diversity and inclusion are unavoidable topics in the modern world. Not just as a political and social issue but as a factor that plays into the economic success of companies. A 2020 McKinsey report shared that companies with higher levels of diversity outperform more homogenous companies. For instance, a company...
The term “diversity” gets thrown around a lot these days. You may have heard it used in relation to race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or even political affiliation. But what does diversity actually mean? And why is it important in the workplace? Diversity can be defined as “the state of being...
Inclusive leadership is the key to building a diverse and engaged workforce. According to Forbes Magazine, inclusive leaders understand that employees are more likely to be engaged and productive in an environment where they feel like they belong. This means creating a workplace where everyone feels like they have a...
In any organization, people are invaluable ‘resources’. In order to be successful, every organization must align its HR strategies with emerging insights. Over the years, HR departments at companies have undergone gradual changes due to the advancement of technology. The biggest challenges HR professionals face today carry a social component. What social...
The acceleration of the phenomenon of “globalization” has made it possible for international organizations to increasingly invest in global teams with members from different countries and different ethnic groups, thus finding greater diversity in the workforce. According to a report published by LinkedIn in 2020, almost 77% of HR professionals...
The term androgynous leader feels new but is not. The term was first introduced in the 1970s by the United States management consultant, Warren Bennis. But it has been gaining momentum since the 1990s as more people are moving towards gender equality in leadership positions. In many debates, the conception of...
Victoria's Secret wants to diversify: with Sofía Jirau from Puerto Rico, a model with Down syndrome presents the famous brand's underwear for the first time. The 24-year-old Puerto Rican celebrated the achievement on Valentine's Day, after the debut of the “Love Cloud” collection, an underwear line. You can find the...
Diversity and inclusion in the workplace have taken the world by storm. Many small-medium-large businesses have been practising these concepts of human equality within their organizations. If you, being a leader, are planning to implement diversity within your organization, you can learn a lot from Hannah Arendt. The German-American political...
Black Pete: Dutch Disgrace? Despite a UN call to reform an offensive tradition in the Netherlands, Black Pete is still a part of some holiday celebrations at this time of year. Will tradition ever give way to changing attitudes? Joining us is Quinsy Gario, Performance Artist and Anti-Black Pete Activist; Pam Evenhuis,...
