Diversity and Inclusion from a Legal Perspective

Press/Media: Blog

Description

Recently, our colleague Abby Muricho Onencan attended the Leiden University annual Diversity and Inclusion Symposium. In this post, she reflects on the keynote address by Professor of Sociology of Law, Ashley Terlouw. Abby shares some new, and intriguing thoughts on the legal perspective of diversity and inclusion that she gathered from the symposium.

English
Blog
Published - 26 Jan 2022
Period26 Jan 2022

Media contributions

1

Media contributions

  • TitleDiversity and Inclusion from a Legal Perspective
    Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom
    Date26/01/22
    Description‘All people are equal, but unequal’ is a statement I gathered on January 13th, 2022, during the Leiden University annual Diversity and Inclusion Symposium. The phrase embraces the complexity we live in, given that all universities are comprised of diverse groups of researchers and lecturers, who want to feel included as equals, acknowledged for their individual contributions, and belong. It also echoes the need for a research community whose foundations are not purely based on equal treatment. Laws and policies that promote equal treatment lump everyone together and assume that every individual has equal access to opportunities, with little or no regard to individual differences. A Harvard business review report indicates that mechanisms aimed at promoting equal treatment like mandatory hiring tests, performance ratings and grievance procedures, often fail (Bernat & Whyte, 2017). A diverse and inclusive learning community should be centered on tailored responsibilities and opportunities, to suit the circumstances, when it is certain that general application may result to disproportionate outcomes. Diversity of outcomes is just as important as the process of ensuring that everyone is “treated equally in equal circumstances[1]”.
    Producer/AuthorAbby Muricho Onencan
    PersonsAbby Muricho Onencan