Sarkeesian: "Your DEI initiatives are making your culture worse"

gamesindustry.biz:

Diversity, equity, and inclusion has been a hot button topic in the games industry over the past decade, with numerous companies embracing DEI efforts in the wake of scandals and tragedies that emphasized the inequality of industry, specific companies, or society as a whole.

But despite high-profile chief diversity officer appointments and more pro-diversity communications from companies, Feminist Frequency executive director Anita Sarkeesian used her GDC session last week to say they are making little in the way of tangible improvements.

"Diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts are framed as attempts to transform workplace environments into a space that is welcoming for all people, especially those historically under-represented," Sarkeesian said. "I'm not here to tell you that DEI is broken; I'm here to tell you that DEI is working as intended and that that's the problem."

One of the problems with DEI efforts as they exist is that they're still built on othering people who are not white, cis, hetero, or abled. And while there certainly are some companies whose DEI efforts could be described as more performative than substantive, the intentions behind such efforts has little bearing when it comes to how effective they are.

In her work in recent years, Sarkeesian said she has spoken with numerous executives, managers, employee resource group (ERG) leaders, advocates, and DEI stakeholders, and come to one conclusion.

"It seems like DEI has been co-opted – or created – by the powerful to become a shield against criticism and real change," Sarkeesian said. "A DEI manager I admire told me, 'DEI is often a panacea. It is the corporate embodiment of a watered-down liberatory movement. It is an attempt to produce equity