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There is a recognition of the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at global, national, state, and community levels. Take any one of the SDGs included in this unit and discuss a couple of challenges leaders face in achieving sustaining results for equity and inclusion. Are the challenges individual or institutional? Examine the challenges at the international, national, state, and organizational levels.
A significant challenge in achieving sustained equity and inclusion for Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 10, Reduced Inequalities, is the deep-seated nature of both individual and institutional barriers. Leaders face the difficulty of not only changing policies and systems but also confronting ingrained biases and behaviors that have been passed down through generations. These challenges manifest differently across international, national, state, and organizational levels.
Leaders aiming to reduce inequality, particularly in income and opportunity, face challenges that are both individual and institutional.
Individual challenges are rooted in personal beliefs, biases, and behaviors. These include:
Unconscious bias: People may unknowingly favor individuals from their own background, race, or gender, leading to biased hiring, promotion, and resource allocation decisions.
Resistance to change: Individuals may feel threatened by shifts in power dynamics or believe that equity initiatives will diminish their own opportunities.
Lack of empathy: Without a lived experience of discrimination, some people may not recognize the systemic barriers others face, making them less likely to support or champion change.
Ignorance or lack of awareness: Many are simply unaware of the extent of inequalities or the impact of their own actions.
Institutional challenges are embedded in the structures, policies, and systems of an organization or society. These are often more difficult to address because they are invisible or seen as "just the way things are." They include:
Discriminatory laws and policies: Historical and current laws may disproportionately harm certain groups, such as those related to housing, education, or criminal justice.
Unequal resource distribution: Institutions may allocate resources (funding, quality education, healthcare) in ways that benefit dominant groups while neglecting marginalized communities.
Systemic barriers: These are entrenched practices that prevent equal access and opportunity. For example, a university's admissions criteria might unintentionally disadvantage students from lower-income backgrounds.
Lack of accountability: When there are no clear mechanisms to measure progress or hold leaders and institutions accountable for equity outcomes, initiatives can fail.