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106. Beyond Equity and Diversity | 超越公平與多元化

Beyond Equity and Diversity

Musings of Dr. Jamie C. Hsu, 9.4.2020

As a follow-up to Blog 105, here are more thoughts on moving beyond advocacy and gaining real traction for real equity. 

First, the systems, rules, and practices in government, society, and companies must be altered to remove barriers and hidden bias so people of all ages, colors, and beliefs can have equal access to the best opportunities. Corrective actions must be taken to compensate for the harms and injustices of the past, and new resources must be provided to meet the special needs of people who have been victimized.

Additionally, new initiatives and incentives need to be established to allow people to be active participants, not just spectators.  “Belongingness” is not just at the viewing stand. It is also on the playing field and at the decision table. The diversity of people should feel they also have a chance to belong to the best and brightest groups.

Another system-level solution is for education and skill upgrades. With the improved capability and skills to create values, one will be pulled into a team and be included in decision-making. A good example is from Hidden Figures, which depicts three Black women who worked at NASA. With their special talents in mathematics, engineering, and computers, they made significant contributions to the success of the early US space flight program. They were welcomed and eagerly induced into the elite-white-male dominated flight team. The value of their work and talents broke barriers and changed perceptions.

Lastly, as individuals, we can do three things to encourage others to welcome us into a group: Improve our capability and update our skills, Understand the other’s interests and needs, and Align our contribution to the team’s objectives and goals.

Only with such mutual benefits in place will people work as a seamless team without focusing on differences in skin color, native languages, or culturally specific behaviors. Eventually, we can reach beyond equity and diversity and live harmoniously in the workplace and society.

超越公平與多元化  

-作者 許俊宸博士

-中譯 薛乃綺

            緊接著Blog 105,這篇我想談更多有關超越倡議,以及對於”真正公平與多元化”受到重視的程度增加的想法。

          首先,必須要撤除存在於政府、社會以及企業中的制度、規則與慣例等這些藩籬,使得所有年齡、膚色與信仰的人們,都能因此平等地獲得最好的機會。还需要採取糾正措施來彌補過去的傷害與不公;也需要去提供新的資源,以滿足受到傷害的人的特殊需求。

          此外,還需要建立新的舉措和激勵措施,讓人們成為積極的參與者,而不僅僅是觀眾。”歸屬感”不只是在看台上,它也出現在比賽場合和決策的会议桌上。人們的多樣性,應該也會讓他們感到自己有機會屬於最優秀和最聰明的群體。

      另一個系統層面的解決方案,是教育與技能升級。隨著創造價值的能力與技能的提高,人們將被納入團隊並且參與決策。最好的例子就是‘隐藏人物 ’那部電影提到NASA的三位黑人女性。憑藉著她們在數學、工程學和計算機領域的特殊才能,她們為美國早期太空飛行計畫的成功,做出了重大的貢獻。她們受到歡迎,並熱情地被邀請進入由白人菁英主導的飛行團隊。她們的工作和才能的價值打破了藩籬,也改變了人們的觀念。

          最要紧的是,作為個人,我們可以做三件事情,來鼓勵他人歡迎我們加入大家的小組:

  1. 提高我們的能力以及升級我們的技能;
  2. 了解他人的興趣和需求;
  3. 使我們大家對團隊的目標貢獻達到一致的共识。

          只有這樣的互惠互利,人們才能成為無縫團隊,而不會關注膚色,母語或特定文化行為的差異。最終,我們可以超越平等和多樣性,在工作場所和社會中和諧地生活。