Beyond Race and Gender

Chapter Two

Beyond Traditional Approaches

It is perhaps easier to understand and fully appreciate the concept of managing diversity by comparing it to two other approaches that are similar but more familiar—affirmative action and valuing differences.

In our nation, we have traditionally thought of diversity in the context of legal or moral imperatives. Within organizations, diversity can be addressed from several different perspectives, each with a different agenda:

■ Civil Rights: Seeks to end discrimination and racism and to comply with legal requirements. Asks this basic question, “What do civil rights-related laws guarantee our employees?”

■ Women’s Rights: Focuses on eliminating sexism. The principal question is, “What can be done to eliminate ...