Diversity - A personal view
I grew up as a minority. As do many folk.
I always knew I was different from my young schoolmates and other people I came across in my everyday life. But I couldn’t put my finger on why…
In fact, it took me a good few years to figure out that these differences had a name. And that name was ‘Gay’.
I never had an issue with my sexuality personally. I didn’t care that my romantic notions tended to be held towards boys. I was however worried about how others would react to it, especially growing up in the 80s and 90s. The language used from the playground to the media to government for people like me was almost always disparaging, or worse, hateful. Inciting people to agree - a call to arms that gays should be silent, or punished.
I knew I wasn’t a deviant, I wasn’t evil and that my heart was good. I knew that my sexuality had nothing to do with how I treat people in everyday life. Or whether I would grow up to be a vet or a teacher or a spaceman. (Or a recruiter!)...
I also knew that I was being raised single-handedly by a very strong minded, very independent and capable woman. My wonderful Mum, who sadly passed away last year. Mum juggled three kids, held down two jobs and always made sure we had food on the table and all the love and security we needed.
Me and my mum at my 40th Birthday Party
Disco Mumma was actually on a podium here
Me and mum throwing some shapes on the dance floor
As a result of this, when in later years, I started hearing the term ‘Strong, independent woman’, I was always a little baffled by it. Why did this need singling out? Are not women all strong and independent? Or at least in the same proportions as men. Why do they need a term to highlight this?
It was a real shock to me to discover that not all people viewed all other people as equal based on their gender. Why would someone think a woman any more or less capable than any man to complete equal tasks? In fact, I had seen my mother use diplomacy, reason and kindness to solve problems, whilst many of the male role models I had at the time were far more likely to get things to go their own way beating their chests like apes, or by shouting like idiots.
Who is better in that equation?
Women are strong
…..fearless
and powerful
Similarly, I grew up in London – a city of such diversity that more languages are spoken here than any other city on the planet.
My school mates came from all over the world. I grew up in an area with a large Indian population, but we had people of African, Irish, Portuguese and Chinese descent in my school and on my street, so I knew I could like or dislike people’s personalities in equal measure, based on interactions with them and they way they treated others. Not based on what they looked like or the accent they spoke in.
As I grew up, I obviously learned the ugly truth, that people are afforded or denied opportunities based on what they look like, how they talk, who they sleep with or simply what gender they were born.
This to me is quite simply baffling. I have always judged people as I meet them, whether our personalities are compatible, whether we are morally aligned.
Diversity
Equality
Inclusion
From a work perspective, I am proud to say that whilst small, my business has an excellent representation of people of different genders, cultural backgrounds and sexuality. I hire people based on whether they are capable of meeting what I expect from them – and if I can see myself enjoying working with them.
Why would anyone do any different?
I do not mean for this post to take away from the very real and often painful experiences that people have had related to discrimination. There is a LOT of work to be done for equality to reign around the world. And I am aware that some people’s stories are much more heart-wrenching than my own.
However, at Global Pathways relocation recruitment agency we are proud to support global opportunities for you – whoever you are. If you have the right skills for the job, we couldn’t care less what you look like, how you speak or who you pray to.
We’re here to champion YOU!
