How Does Being “Diverse” Make You Better?
I wanted to share another exchange I had on LinkedIn recently. I keep seeing these references to WordPress and WordCamps specifically about the speaker lineups. This interests me as I am a speaker. You see, right now, there is a huge push from the DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) faction to run off speakers that are white, straight, or male.
On the surface, it seems to be mostly white females that are the loudest in this movement. I have spoken personally to many people of color that actually hate the efforts, as the appearance or perception by outsiders is that they are finding their success because of their color rather than their skill. I believe most professionals want to succeed based on their work.
I tried to put in a logic-based comment about the subject and got a substandard response. Please tell me why you believe being gay makes someone better qualified to teach and present in business. Please tell me why you believe a black person is better at teaching and presenting than me. I am open to changing my world view… but its got to make more sense than “because you’re a sexist, bigot, homophobe if you don’t agree with me”.
Bring stats to the conversation. Demonstrate your position on logic.
In my example of WordCamp for example. WordCamp supposedly uses a blind selection process for speaker selection. They use the Title and the Description of the talk to make the choice. That is it. It is now being proposed that they should add “Points” for diversity. So my logic is this.
If I pick the 10 best-fitting talks for my event… then upgrade talks based on appearance or who someone gets naked with… is that a conscious effort to degrade the event? Of course, I got the “you assume diversity is a downgrade”. Wrong! Anything chosen outside of the original 10 talks that were originally decided to be the best, is a downgrade.
If I am an attendee paying to attend an event and learn, I want to know that I have been given the best speakers for my investment. I don’t care if they have breasts, what color they are, or who they get naked with. I am there to learn about business.
The other message here is that people in my group – straight, white, males… all of a sudden have nothing to offer. We are irrelevant. That doesn’t seem inclusive at all.
What About Doing the Work?
When I see these types of groups advocating the promotion of diversity with the reasoning of “Just Because”, I find it very insulting. What about this? Do the work. Put workshops together that teach diverse groups specifically how to appeal to organizers for talks based on content.
What if these speakers built their own companies and entered the marketplace at the level of participation that put them at the top of the speaker list? This is not an exclusive concept, especially in the WordPress example. To participate at this level you need a computer and internet access, and tons of ideas and time to build something.
When you build something people like… you gain following. As you gain a following and build influence, you open yourself to speaker invitations.
Hot Topic
As I said in the piece… I am open to changing my worldview but it has to make sense. I am completely open to commenting on this post – but please keep things civil and respectful.
If you organize WordCamps or Meetups you should definitely check this new handbook page out! 👀 It’s really good
How do you do #WordCamp speaker selection for content AND diversity?
The #WPDiversity group created a new page for the WordCamp Handbook: WordCamp Speaker Selection.
The page covers:
– How to define diversity for YOUR location
– How to do speaker selection for content AND diversity
I enlisted people from all over the world to make sure that it reflects the #DEI needs of many different cultures. ❤️ 🌐
This recommended method has several rounds of selection. At least one “blind” round (no names) and at least one “with names” round. In this way, you can work on the joint goals of both content AND diversity.
—
I had a surprisingly great time working on this documentation. Do you like writing documentation? Yes / Sometimes / No
#diversity #diversityintech #diversityandinclusion #diversityinclusion
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Kurt Von AhnenView Kurt Von Ahnen’s profile (Open to Connections) • YouPeeling back the B.S. through effective communication and leadership consulting, in addition to full-service WordPress Hosting and Development through Mañana No Mas!
1d
When I applied to speak at WordCamp (and was turned down), I actually found solace in the concept that it was a blind process. If the decision is made strictly by content and the concept of bringing the best content to the attendees… should that not be the mission of a presentation?
It’s easier for me personally as a White Married Male to get turned down because my topic is off, rather than converting my sexual behavior.
If an organization can demonstrate a blind process, how can you justify degrading the content in the quest for diversity? When I see these posts I can’t help but see it as damaging to the very people that are trying to be promoted. I want to be respected for my work, not what my parents look like or who I get naked with.
A place that I actually have an issue with in the selection process being blind is that you don’t really know if the presenter can present or not. When they go by Title and Description… but have no speaking sample to consider – the quality of everything is up in the air.
My personal bend is that the best speakers with the best topics should present to bring the highest value to the people that take the time and commit financially to attending.
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3 Replies3 Replies on Kurt Von Ahnen’s comment
Steve JonesView Steve Jones’ profile • 1stPowersports, Marine & RV Business Consultant & Management Trainer
1d
Amen!
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Megan RoseView Megan Rose’s profileAuthorAsk me about #WCUS sponsor opportunities! | Developer 👩💻 | Community Builder 💙 | Conference Organizer 🪄 | LinkedIn is not a dating site. 🙅♀️
3h
Interesting that you think I or the diversity team is attempting to “convert” your sexuality here.
It’s telling that you believe a diverse lineup automatically means “degrading” the content. As someone who has been organizing conferences since 2015, I can assure you that many talks get submitted and sometimes even good ones are turned down. (*gasp*)
And if you had read the post, you’d see your concern about selections based on title & description is echoed in the post. (But why read something if you have your mind made up on the topic, right?)
PS: Are you also the kind of person that believes the pay gap is justified? I’m very curious!
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Kurt Von AhnenView Kurt Von Ahnen’s profile (Open to Connections) • YouPeeling back the B.S. through effective communication and leadership consulting, in addition to full-service WordPress Hosting and Development through Mañana No Mas!
1s
Megan Rose I didn’t say anything about “Converting” my sexuality… I just find it very confusing how my choice of getting naked with someone better qualifies me to speak at a business summit. My comment above is idea that I am totally ok with being turned down to speak if my content is off… but I have a personal challenge of losing a speaking gig because I’m a straight white male.
I also did not assume a diverse speaker is a degradation of content… however, if you have 10 slots to speak, using a blind process to pick the 10 best fitting talks — then upgrade losing talks based on diversity… then yes, you have made a conscious decision to degrade the talks of your event in favor of diversity, based on your original selection process.
I read the whole post and carefully worded my comment on the logic that I want the best talks… period. When I pay to attend a business event with the intention of learning something… I want to learn from the best. Sometimes the best is white. Sometimes they are brown.
Pay gap? First off… is there one 🙂 I know it would be easier to paint me as a crazy X, Y, Z… but I am not an extremist, activist, anything… I am open to changing my world view, just need a reason that makes sense.
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