Diversity on the ballot
Written by Anonymous 2 months ago
Diversity seems to be a very hot topic lately. Not only have i4cp member companies been asking for additional research (which we are more than happy to assist with), but also the media has been fixated on issues of gender, race, age and disability. Not surprising considering the current race for the U.S. presidency.
With Hillary Clinton narrowly losing the Democratic presidential nomination and the more recent nomination of Sarah Palin as the Republican vice-presidential candidate, issues surrounding gender have been a major staple of this election. The media has been dissecting gender differences – with their usual ham-handed grace – such as how women lead, the opportunities women receive and attractiveness as a qualification. Silly as the latter issue may seem, in Palin’s case attractiveness has even been debated as a hindrance.
Age is another issue the media has been scrutinizing ad nauseum. Arguments have ranged from youth equating to inexperience – Barack Obama (47) and Sarah Palin (44) – to a senior citizen like John McCain at 72 possibly being too old for the role of President. It’s the political equivalent of Goldilocks and the three bears. Maybe Joe Biden is “just right” at age 66.
Interestingly, there are many leaders of business who make John McCain look like a “spring chicken.” One example is Sumner Redstone, chairman of media giant Viacom (and I hope the irony is not lost on anyone), at 85. And while he may appear to be a figurehead, Hugh Hefner at 82 still exerts control of Playboy Enterprises as the Chief Creative Officer. He also keeps up a vigorous travel schedule with many public appearances, including filming The Girls Next Door, as well as other likely demands on his time and energy. Other captains of industry over the age of 80 include David Murdock (84), CEO of Castle & Cooke and Dole Foods; Hank Greenberg (83), former CEO of AIG and current Chairman & CEO of C.V. Starr; Kirk Kerkorian (91), President/CEO of Tracinda; Chuck Dolan (81), Chairman of Cablevision (another media mogul); and Run Run Shaw (100), Chairman of Television Broadcasts, Hong Kong’s premier broadcaster.
But how could I forget to mention race? From the beginning of the Democratic presidential primaries almost 18 months ago, it seems we do not go a day without hearing about the “race card” on cable news networks. Barack Obama’s historic acceptance of the Democratic nomination on the anniversary of Martin Luther King’s “I have a Dream” speech was an opportunity for the media to recap the civil rights movement. There is no doubt the country has changed a great deal in a mere 30 years.
But that’s not the full range of diversity issues this election has touched on. As a new twist, with the nomination of Palin – the mother of a child with Down syndrome – I have begun to see numerous news stories about living with disabilities in America. To families living with disabilities, Palin has pledged that, if elected, “you will have a friend and advocate in the White House.” Religion has also been a reoccurring topic, from the infamous New Yorker cover of Obama to the divisive comments of Reverend Jeremiah Wright of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. Marital status, veteran status, family status, class and geographic differences – this political season has been a cornucopia of diversity issues.
One thing is certain, no matter who wins the presidential election in November, many work-related stereotypes have been challenged during this election cycle and a lot of dialogue has been generated about diversity in the country’s highest elected office. Though always controversial, I feel this dialogue has to be beneficial for corporate diversity initiatives and for the nation overall.
With Hillary Clinton narrowly losing the Democratic presidential nomination and the more recent nomination of Sarah Palin as the Republican vice-presidential candidate, issues surrounding gender have been a major staple of this election. The media has been dissecting gender differences – with their usual ham-handed grace – such as how women lead, the opportunities women receive and attractiveness as a qualification. Silly as the latter issue may seem, in Palin’s case attractiveness has even been debated as a hindrance.
Age is another issue the media has been scrutinizing ad nauseum. Arguments have ranged from youth equating to inexperience – Barack Obama (47) and Sarah Palin (44) – to a senior citizen like John McCain at 72 possibly being too old for the role of President. It’s the political equivalent of Goldilocks and the three bears. Maybe Joe Biden is “just right” at age 66.
Interestingly, there are many leaders of business who make John McCain look like a “spring chicken.” One example is Sumner Redstone, chairman of media giant Viacom (and I hope the irony is not lost on anyone), at 85. And while he may appear to be a figurehead, Hugh Hefner at 82 still exerts control of Playboy Enterprises as the Chief Creative Officer. He also keeps up a vigorous travel schedule with many public appearances, including filming The Girls Next Door, as well as other likely demands on his time and energy. Other captains of industry over the age of 80 include David Murdock (84), CEO of Castle & Cooke and Dole Foods; Hank Greenberg (83), former CEO of AIG and current Chairman & CEO of C.V. Starr; Kirk Kerkorian (91), President/CEO of Tracinda; Chuck Dolan (81), Chairman of Cablevision (another media mogul); and Run Run Shaw (100), Chairman of Television Broadcasts, Hong Kong’s premier broadcaster.
But how could I forget to mention race? From the beginning of the Democratic presidential primaries almost 18 months ago, it seems we do not go a day without hearing about the “race card” on cable news networks. Barack Obama’s historic acceptance of the Democratic nomination on the anniversary of Martin Luther King’s “I have a Dream” speech was an opportunity for the media to recap the civil rights movement. There is no doubt the country has changed a great deal in a mere 30 years.
But that’s not the full range of diversity issues this election has touched on. As a new twist, with the nomination of Palin – the mother of a child with Down syndrome – I have begun to see numerous news stories about living with disabilities in America. To families living with disabilities, Palin has pledged that, if elected, “you will have a friend and advocate in the White House.” Religion has also been a reoccurring topic, from the infamous New Yorker cover of Obama to the divisive comments of Reverend Jeremiah Wright of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. Marital status, veteran status, family status, class and geographic differences – this political season has been a cornucopia of diversity issues.
One thing is certain, no matter who wins the presidential election in November, many work-related stereotypes have been challenged during this election cycle and a lot of dialogue has been generated about diversity in the country’s highest elected office. Though always controversial, I feel this dialogue has to be beneficial for corporate diversity initiatives and for the nation overall.
