EVOLVE Business and Professional Magazine May 2018 | Page 18

Why Diversity Matters
But Inclusion Matters More
by Terri Quinton
B
efore you can discuss diversity and inclusion and why there needs to
be intentional emphasis in this area, let’s clarify the difference. In the
broadest sense, diversity is anything that is used to differentiate one group
from another – age, gender, ethnicity, disability, religion, military service, size,
etc. Because classifying groups allows us to segment the groups, it could also be
utilized to exclude one group from another. Inclusion, then, is an act to include one
group with another. It is an action – whether intentional or accidental, to combine
groups. Diversity is something you can quantify, count, number. Inclusion is often
not measurable and is more behavioral. Thus, it is easy to talk about diversity
– you either have it or you don’t. It is harder to talk about inclusion because
diversity numbers alone do not define or ensure inclusion.
| 18 | EVOLVE BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL MAGAZINE