Diversity is the idea of having a variety of different ethnic backgrounds and cultures within a business workforce or industry.
When it comes to the creative industry, diversity is crucial for innovation. It allows for cultures to blend and develop their ideas together, and is a benefit to culture as a whole moving forward. This article will cover its importance in the creative industry and how the creative industry can further improve when it comes to diversity.
Types of Diversity
There are many different forms that diversity can come in, and they are all essential when it comes to innovation within the creative industry. Here is a breakdown of the different types of diversity that can be encountered:
- Race Diversity – Race is related to a person’s physical traits based on their geographical background. For example; Asian, African, Caribbean, etc.
- Cultural Diversity – Cultural diversity is based on the ethnic backgrounds of different people (not to be confused with race). The difference between race and ethnicity is that ethnicity is not based on physical traits, but rather on cultural backgrounds.
- Sex/Gender – It is important to recognise the difference between sex and gender. Sex refers to a person in a biological sense, whereas gender is aligned with the way an individual identifies themselves. This could include but is not limited to, male, female, and non-binary.
- Sexual orientation – A person’s sexual orientation is based on who they are attracted to when it comes to sex and gender. Examples of this include homosexuality, bisexuality, and heterosexuality.
- Age Diversity – Age diversity is based on being inclusive of different age groups, with a focus on generations. This means giving opportunities to different generation groups, such as millennials, Gen Z, and Gen X.
- Socioeconomic diversity – This is related to different class types within society, and giving opportunities to those coming from lower-class and low-income backgrounds.
- Disability – There are many different types of disabilities, both mental and physical, that should be considered when it comes to diversity in the creative industry.
Benefits of Diversity
Diversity has provided many benefits to the creative industry as it allows for many different perspectives to breed innovation and ideas. A mix of different backgrounds is able to share their own personal experiences and knowledge to create unique works.
When a product or piece of work is produced by a diverse group of people, it opens up a larger audience of different backgrounds that can resonate with different aspects.
Diversity in the creative industry can also be beneficial within the workplace, allowing people to feel respected while also educating themselves on different backgrounds through communication.
Diversity can also help eliminate stereotypes and challenge exclusionary mindsets within the creative industry. It provides representation for minorities or oppressed groups within society that have gone underrepresented for so long. This representation could provide a positive cultural shift in society and allows for more progressive viewpoints.
Moving Forward
The creative industry still has a long way to go when it comes to diversity. Like most industries, it is still white male dominated and could definitely benefit from representing different backgrounds more often. Businesses should be scrutinised and questioned when it comes to a lack of diversity, both in the hiring process and the work that is produced.
The correct support and resources should also be provided for groups that are underrepresented. For example, this could be mental health support, wheelchair ramps within the workplace, or links to financial help resources for those who come from low-income backgrounds.
The goal of diversity within the workplace is to provide equal opportunities for everyone and allow people to feel comfortable, respected, and happy in the workplace.
Conclusion
In conclusion, diversity in the creative industry is crucial when it comes to innovation and inclusivity. It can lead to a broader audience, and also more career opportunities for underrepresented groups in society. It is also important to note that a lot of progress needs to be made before the creative industry can be considered wholly diverse and inclusive, and businesses should be held accountable for a lack of diversity.
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