Tag: Diversity

Why Sizing Diversity Matters in the Fashion Industry

Elizabeth N. TranLeave a comment

This article was originally published on August 13, 2021, in 60 Seconds Magazine. As of June 3, 2023, 60 Seconds Magazine‘s website is no longer active.

“What’s your size?”

This is a question that may seem harmless at first, but in reality, these words can be triggering to many—especially those who are suffering from an eating disorder or have negative feelings about their body. While the fashion industry has been trying to be more inclusive in recent years by hiring models of color to walk in their runway shows, the industry as a whole still tends to market its clothing to a generally slim consumer.

This is especially apparent when looking at high-end brands such as Louis Vuitton, Chanel, or Yves Saint Laurent, as couture and ready-to-wear collections tend to adhere to a “universal sample size.” From these brands’ perspectives, these design choices make it easier for them to have a quicker turnaround time for all of the pieces in their collections during times of high stress, such as Fashion Week.

However, what these brands fail to consider are the ramifications of this “universal sample size” that generally falls on the smaller or slimmer side of the sizing spectrum. When brands promote smaller sizes, whether intentionally or unintentionally, they are encouraging society as a whole to accept it as the standard of beauty. This can have lasting negative effects since a generation of consumers will constantly and tirelessly strive to fit into an almost impossible standard of beauty.

Much like how fashion brands have started to diversify and include models of all races and ethnicities, it’s also crucial for the industry to start including models of all sizes. By promoting various sizes in important shows during Fashion Week, brands can start changing the way consumers perceive beauty and the standards of beauty. Though the change will be slow and can increase costs in the short run, in the long run, this change can positively impact our society as a whole and help a whole generation be more accepting of a universal truth—that all bodies and shapes are beautiful.

How Businesses Can Include People with Disabilities

Elizabeth N. TranLeave a comment
This article was originally published on July 14, 2021, in 60 Seconds Magazine. As of June 3, 2023, 60 Seconds Magazine‘s website is no longer active.

Invalids equal in rights in the balance with healthy people. Concept of social equality of disabled people in society

In recent years, there has been a lot of focus on social issues of diversity and inclusion, particularly in the workplace. This is especially apparent when discussing equality across boundaries of gender, race, and sexual orientation. However, disability is often neglected.

To understand disability, it’s important to first define it. According to the UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities, a person with a disability is defined as a person who has “long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.”

The World Bank estimates that around 15% of the population—more than one billion people worldwide—live with a disability. However, only a small percentage of businesses consider disability in their diversity initiatives. To be truly inclusive, businesses can increase their efforts in showing that they truly see the value in everyone.

One of the best ways to do so is to be open to more potential employees. This is especially apparent in the recruitment process, where potential employees with disabilities may be discouraged to even apply due to generic job descriptions—which may list physical tasks such as driving, typing, lifting, or the ability to sit for long periods of time. To be more inclusive, companies should be more considerate and should not include these generic descriptions, especially if the role does not actually demand them.

Another great way to increase diversity includes creating more accessible workplaces. For instance, workplaces should include both stairs and elevators. Assistive technology should also be readily available. People with disabilities need to feel included and comfortable, and the office design needs to take all of this into consideration.

There are many ways for a workplace to broaden accessibility and inclusivity. In doing so, businesses become a pillar of strength in the community by helping to prioritize diversity across the spectrum.

The Importance of Gender Diversity in the Workplace

Elizabeth N. TranLeave a comment

This article was originally published on May 17, 2021, in 60 Seconds Magazine. As of June 3, 2023, 60 Seconds Magazine‘s website is no longer active.

When discussing diversity, we often gravitate towards discussions about race, social injustices, and prejudice. However, gender diversity is also a major concern that plagues one of the most important places in our society—the workplace.

Gender diversity in the workplace is crucial in creating an organization that equally and fairly represents everyone. It’s important to note that simply hiring more employees that identify as women, transgender, or nonbinary is not enough. Instead, companies need to actively create a workplace that empowers and includes everyone across the gender spectrum.

To do so, it is crucial to challenge gender stereotypes. For instance, women do not have to be the only ones taking notes during meetings or answering the telephone for their bosses. Assigning one gender to certain tasks and behaviors encourages stereotypes, so it’s important to challenge these preconceived notions by taking a look at the kind of language that is being used in the workplace.

Another great way to challenge gender stereotypes is through the amplification of a variety of voices. During meetings, it can be extremely helpful to consider everyone’s opinions or ideas. This way, everyone can feel included and will be encouraged to communicate more in the future.

When discussing gender diversity in the workspace, fair promotion and compensation is a topic that needs to be addressed as well. Promotion practices need to be based on performance and merit alone and not on anything else, such as gender or race. To ensure fair and equal representation, it’s important to make sure the hiring committee and human resources departments are not exclusively dominated by any one gender. By actively standing against gender stereotypes and prejudices, a workplace can introduce important concepts about identity to their employees, which will then influence their behavior in the future.

The Importance of Diversity in the Classroom

Elizabeth N. TranLeave a comment

This article was originally published on April 9, 2021, in 60 Seconds Magazine. As of June 3, 2023, 60 Seconds Magazine‘s website is no longer active.

The world is having very important conversations regarding diversity right now, making it the perfect time to touch on social injustices, prejudices, and stereotyping in one of the most important places in our society—the classroom. Growing up as a first-generation Asian American, I didn’t always feel welcome in the classroom in elementary and middle school. This was partly due to the lack of lessons to help other students understand diversity.

There are so many opportunities for teachers to create lessons and activities that celebrate other cultures, religions, nationalities, and personal decisions, which will help create a comfortable and safe environment for everyone in the classroom. Most importantly, teachers will be able to nurture a more tolerant and understanding generation of students.

One of the best ways to break down prejudices and stereotypes is through literature. Students can benefit from being exposed to more books that touch upon tolerance, prejudices, racism, and stereotyping. Some popular choices include books such as To Kill a Mockingbird, The Hate U Give, and Don’t Call Me Special.

Another great way to increase awareness of other cultures is to share and celebrate each other’s holiday traditions. Questions such as where the holiday originated from and why people celebrate it will help students gain a deeper understanding of a variety of nationalities, religions, and holidays.

However, the best way to nurture culturally sensitive and understanding students is by being a positive role model. By actively standing against racism and prejudices, teachers will introduce important concepts about identity, culture, and tradition to their students, which will then influence their behavior in the future.

How Diversity Leads to Greater Awareness, Understanding, and Acceptance

Elizabeth N. TranLeave a comment

This article was originally published on October 31, 2020, in 60 Seconds Magazine. As of June 3, 2023, 60 Seconds Magazine‘s website is no longer active.

While diversity may not necessarily be an unfamiliar concept, especially for those of us who live in more liberal states or come from more openminded cultural backgrounds, it is still important to recognize the positive impact that it has on us in our day-to-day lives.

If I can only choose one take-away from the conversations surrounding diversity, it will definitely be the way diversity improves our ability to think outside of the box and communicate effectively.

Let’s take a look at schools, for instance.

Historically, culturally diverse academic campuses offer a more robust educational experience, since students have the opportunity to interact with peers and mentors that come from different backgrounds and upbringings. This is especially true for students who may have previously been raised amongst people of similar racial, cultural, or socioeconomic backgrounds.

A diverse academic environment allows these students to come into contact with peers that they haven’t interacted with before, which in turn can challenge and dispel predisposed stereotypes about certain races, ethnicities, cultures, or economic upbringing. These interactions will also allow them to be more collaborative and will also present students with the opportunity to view things from a different perspective, skills that are very crucial to future success, especially in the workforce.

Most notably, diversity helps us understand and accept differing beliefs and perspectives, which thereby encourages us to become more aware and empathetic.

How Diversity in Literature Leads to Greater Awareness

Elizabeth N. TranLeave a comment

This article was originally published on January 17, 2021, in 60 Seconds Magazine. As of June 3, 2023, 60 Seconds Magazine‘s website is no longer active.

When we’re younger, we form predisposed perceptions of what the “norm” is based on our own families and culture, and we often use these notions to judge those that have different upbringings and points of view.

As I was growing up, I read voraciously, and through literature, I was able to learn more about many different cultures and places. Reading has allowed me to explore the concept of diversity in a greater context, and as a result, I am much more aware of the differences that exist in our world. Through literature, I have become more openminded and empathetic, and rather than being skeptical of differences, I appreciate diversity and how it makes our world extraordinary.

Books such as Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, George Orwell’s 1984, and Jhumpa Lahiri’s The Namesake have helped me understand and acknowledge the differences that exist in our world, especially the issues concerning race, culture, religion, abilities, gender, and socioeconomic status. These books have encouraged me to view our society in a completely new perspective, and in doing so, I have also started to change my attitude towards differences by celebrating the things that distinguish us.

I highly encourage reading the books mentioned earlier to expand your own perceptions about diversity. Knowledge helps us become more objective about the differences that exist in our communities, and it will also help us appreciate how these differences can bring us together.