Caution: Attacks on DEI in the US threaten to cement glass ceilings
Summary
- A red alert needs to be raised on American progress as a war is waged against diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Diverse perspectives are necessary for a nation to advance. No industry should be dominated by one race, gender or class.
Women’s History Month began as a way to honour women’s contributions throughout time. It was meant to commemorate their ‘firsts’ and perhaps more importantly, to inspire future generations of ladies to achieve greatness.
Unfortunately, that second objective is in danger. If politicians and businesses continue to abandon measures for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), which have helped qualified yet under-represented people gain access to career opportunities, the next generation of history-makers could be drastically delayed. What’s more, integration in professional fields may never be achieved.
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This is true of many industries, but I often think about how gender disparity shows up in the aviation field because my eight-year-old daughter wants to be a pilot, just like her dad. According the US federal Bureau of Labour Statistics, women make up just 4.6% of all aircraft pilots, while industry groups estimate that less than 1% of them are African-American women.
The numbers are even bleaker for Asian and Latino women. We should call these figures what they are: a failure of the US aviation industry. If it’s routine for people to fly anywhere in the world in an aeroplane, it shouldn’t be atypical for it to be a woman flying it.
There are several reasons for the lack of progress. Money is a major barrier. It can cost up to $100,000 to obtain all the hours, licences and ratings to fly for an airline. Traditional financial aid and federal funding are not available for aviation schools because many of them are not degree-granting institutions.
The lifestyle can also be a hurdle. Commercial pilots who fly for the airlines or cargo companies often travel for days at a time, and their schedules can be unpredictable. For women who are primary caregivers, it’s a career path that may not be feasible or sustainable.Going into aviation often requires mentorship and pipelines that can lower these barriers to entry—a marker of DEI initiatives.
For those who think ‘DEI’ is synonymous with ‘unqualified,’ consider that all commercial pilots must obtain at least 1,500 hours of ‘pilot in command’ time: logged training when you’re in control of the aeroplane. The extensive training means that all pilots who obtain their hours are qualified. There is no skipping the line. 1,500 hours is 1,500 hours.
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While women have made stellar accomplishments in aerospace—the names of famed pilots such as Amelia Earhart, Jacqueline Cochran and Bessie Coleman circulate every Women’s History Month—sustained progress remains elusive. The sad truth is that for a majority of the last century, America has been a dominant force in every facet of air and space, yet American women are still being left behind—stuck in a period of firsts and onlies as if they’ve just begun.
This is a pattern in many other industries as well. Men still dominate computer science, engineering, finance, construction, clergy, film and TV production in the US, to name a few. Yet, women-dominated careers—teachers, dental hygienists, administrative assistants, hairstylists and childcare workers—are grossly underpaid. It will take institutional investment—and in a politically hostile environment, courage—to change these statistics.
Next year, America will celebrate its 250th birthday. In a true democracy, and a land in which everyone is entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, no industry should be dominated by one race, sex or class. Representation matters for several reasons, but at the top of the list is this: It provides diverse perspectives that help to keep society evolving.
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Women have proven this for generations by leading movements that have improved the lives of all.
What is space exploration without the work of Eileen Collins and Katherine Johnson? What is the airline industry without the work of June Morris and Bonnie Tiburzi? Or military achievement without the Women’s Air Force Service Pilots? Or the abolitionist movement without Harriet Tubman or Lydia Maria Child? What was the suffrage movement without Ida B. Wells or Sojourner Truth? What is the Civil Rights Movement without Rosa Parks or Diane Nash? What is the disabilities movement without Judy Heumann or Alice Wong?
When the first man landed on the moon, it was because space was a national priority for the US. Having more women in any field, particularly marginalized fields, must remain a top priority. The work is not even close to being done.
Celebrating Women’s History Month is more than an exercise in honouring women’s achievements or declaring “mission accomplished," it’s a challenge and a charge to keep going. ©Bloomberg
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