Who is responsible for diversity in the workplace?
What we learned while watching The Bold Type. Kat’s character is a great example of how to campaign for fair treatment - BUT the responsibility lies with ALL OF US!
JONATHAN WENK/FREEFORM
At fifteen years old, I dreamed about working at Dazed Magazine 😍. Fast-forward six years later and I’m sat in the offices in Old Street, London, interviewing for an intern position. Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, I excitedly scanned the office: the old issues framed on the wall, the Christmas tree topped with a Beyoncé bauble 🎄, the Fashion Editor’s desk covered with vintage Alexander McQueen (I know 😭). But while I hungrily took it all in, one other less encouraging feature stood out — the fact that I was the only young black woman in the office. And that fact has pretty much stayed the same throughout my career.
Lately, I’ve been binge-watching The Bold Type; a cutting-edge look at life working at the imaginary Scarlet Magazine, where friends Sutton, Kat and Jane 🙋🏼🙋🏽🙋🏻navigate the industry in the best way they know how. Season 2 episode 5 “Stride of Pride” takes a close look at the issue of diversity within the workplace. As a mixed-race woman, Kat wants a fresh voice to join her social team. She finds Angela, a young Latina woman whose personal Twitter page has a better engagement rate than the magazine itself. Excited to hire her, Angela is rejected by HR because she doesn’t have a college degree.
At the same time, Kat’s friend Jane applies for a writing position at Yes Girl! Magazine. She’s told she won’t be getting the job because the magazine is on a diversity push and she reacts with outrage — which understandably upsets Kat. In both situations, Kat uses her strength, kindness and intelligence to explain why diversity matters 🙌🏻 🙌🏾 🙌🏿. She brings Angela along to speak to the board members to prove that a lack of education doesn't equal a lack of experience; she sits down with Jane and tells her how exhausting it can be as a woman of colour trying to find work, often overlooked and misunderstood. Whether you’re at the beginning, middle or coming to the end of your career, diversity will always be an important topic, so here are some key points to think about when the issue comes up.
SPEAK UP 🔊
Whether you’re in the position to hire someone or part of a growing team, don’t be afraid to speak up if you think your company isn’t as diverse as it could or should be. Aside from work, these are essential conversations to have with friends too. Just like Kat and Jane, honesty is the best policy, so speak your mind and share your truth to inspire change at every level. At The Soulfuls, we think it’s important to be confident and be the change that you want to see!
MAKE ROOM FOR OTHER VOICES 💬
We live in a world full of people with unique experiences to bring to the table. But if there’s only one type of person sat around, that’s gonna make for one boring dinner party! We need to make room for other voices — that includes people from different economic, cultural, social and sexual backgrounds. Everyone should have a fair opportunity to achieve their dreams, but that can only happen if there are enough seats for us all. To see the positive effect of this attitude in action, join The Soulfuls Summit to hear from a range of women working within the creative industry.
YOU MATTER ❤️
Kat, Jane and Sutton all have very different personalities but there’s one thing that they have in common — they’re not afraid to be bold! Here at The Soulfuls, we encourage everyone in our community to tap into their inner power. Diversity affects us all in every walk of life, but just like Angela, you have the ability to make a difference. If you’re bored of the board at your workplace, remember you have the talent, drive and determination to always shake things up!
We invite you to join The Soulfuls to get the encouragement, knowledge and community you need to unlock your potential. From Monday April 26th, we’ll be hosting The Soulfuls Summit — a chance to enjoy talks with leading women within the industry from a diverse range of backgrounds. Sign up to become a member now and we’ll see you there!
Lakeisha is a journalist from London based in Copenhagen, Denmark. With a background in fashion, you’ll find her writing about streetwear, hip hop culture and life as a young Black woman.
Questions? You can always email us at info@thesoulfuls.com
