Debate on definitions must not hinder progress
Download the AAM DEAI Definitions Infographic here.
The proliferation of diversity and inclusion initiatives across sectors virtually guarantees that there will be debate about the terms of engagement. Clear definitions keep us on the same page and allow us to move forward. Although there are many definitions of diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion, the working group agreed upon a set that best capture our beliefs. The definitions below are each followed by a discussion of why the working group members crafted the definitions in the way that they did.
Call to action:
We invite you to use these terms with your colleagues, visitors, and museum leadership. You can cite these definitions in your appeals to grant makers, your evaluation work, and your own inclusion planning. Let us know how you have used or revised them in your own work!
Diversity
Diversity is all the ways that people are different and the same at the individual and group levels. Even when people appear the same, they are different. Organizational diversity requires examining and questioning the makeup of a group to ensure that multiple perspectives are represented.