5 Things / Square Holes
Listen to the full episode here:
“When you’re a straight, white, college-educated guy in America, you’re a square peg in a square hole. How I identify isn’t something I have to think about too often and that’s a luxury.”
This week I interviewed some folks as part of a client project, and I met some incredible aspiring allies. This man goes on to say:
”I have to recognize that my experience is very different from other people's. It doesn’t mean that I haven’t worked hard. It doesn’t mean I haven’t overcome challenges…I try to create an environment where people of all different backgrounds and life experiences can be successful. I try to do the same with people within our community…so I’m not putting the onus on the individual to ask for what they need to be successful.”
I’m sharing this because I find his self-awareness notable, and his willingness to proactively be equitable and inclusive. One of the things we talked about was how he filled 80% of open positions, compared to 20% at this time last year – and he’s done that by proactively seeking Spanish-speaking employees. He posts jobs in Spanish, with a phone number to a Spanish-speaking employee, made the application process much less onerous, and diversified the hiring committee.
This is inclusive leadership in action. Did all of this take thoughtfulness and intention? Yes. Does it work? Yes.
Here are the good vibes I found this week:
South Korean Court Grants Gay Couple Health Benefits in Landmark Ruling
The South Korean high court ruled that same-sex couples in the country are entitled to the same national health benefits as their opposite-sex counterparts. This is a huge deal in a country that has not yet legalized same-sex marriage (Taiwan is the only Asian country to do so). This matters because South Korea is a country with only about 2% openly LGBTQ people, and this policy change may give people the courage to be more authentically themselves. h/t to Jane Lee for this story
Barbie’s Global Instagram Platform Will Be Lit up With Looks From Award-Winning Costume Designer And Stylist Zerina Akers
Emmy Award-winning costume designer and Beyonce’s former stylist Zerina Akers partnered with Barbie to create a collection of dolls that are icons of Black culture. The dolls were created as part of Black History Month and reflect a diversity of hair textures, skin tones, and styles. Check them out on Instagram! This matters because these dolls showcase authentic Black beauty, joy, and possibility.
Home Depot Says It Will Spend $1 Billion to Give Hourly Workers a Raise
Home Depot became the latest company with a major front-line workforce to increase its minimum wage to at least $15/hour. The company is spending $1 billion on these raises which affect employees in the supply chain, customer service, merchandising, and similar roles. Last year, the company also promoted 65,000 employees internally. BIPOC folks are disproportionately represented in these types of jobs and I'm thrilled to see Home Depot and others rewarding their value and providing a path forward in their career.
How India’s Caste System Manifests in Seattle-Area Workplaces and Beyond
Seattle became the first U.S. city to ban caste discrimination, adding it as a protected class to the city’s anti-discrimination ordinance. The caste system is a hierarchical system that originated in India but carries over to other societies, and to this today affects societal rank and opportunity. This may play out when people only offer opportunities such as internships and promotions to people within their own caste. It can also cause microaggressions. This matters because caste is a hidden form of oppression.
Amazon Just Made It Easier for People With Hearing Loss to Stream Content
Folks who experience hearing loss sometimes have cochlear implants, which bypass the damaged parts of the ear to interpret sounds and send signals to the brain. Apparently, these are not very effective when watching tv and movies at home, although an expensive device called a streamer can help. Amazon Instant Video has just become the first streaming service to use Bluetooth to connect the tv’s sound directly to the cochlear implant, making it a much better viewing experience for the person with hearing loss. It also means that these folks don’t need to buy streamers, which are in effect, a disability tax. This matters because it can benefit more than 183,000 people in the US and over 700k globally who use cochlear implants.
Call to Action:
Did you know that the U.S. state of Tennessee is about to ban drag performances? Read this article about the attack on LGBTQ+ rights in the U.S.