"Justice is not inclusion": The difference between EDI work and justice

“You can DEI your way into equality, but you cannot DEI your way into justice"

I saw this quote from Dr T. Anansi Wilson @blaqueerflow on twitter the other day and it really resonated with what my friends and I discuss quite often in regards to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI/DEI) work and justice work 

You can DEI your way into equality, maybe even equity, but you cannot DEI your way into justice. Justice is not inclusion (into a violent system), but r/evolution into a new way of organising and living and dying; resources and care; power and deservability; accountability & rest. 

(This is also a thread on Twitter if you would like to see more of it)

What I love about this quote is that there is a difference between EDI work and justice work. Just because someone states they are committed to justice does not mean they do the work to implement what that really means.

I think it’s important to distinguish in order to carry on the conversation of who is promoting activism, and who is promoting the institution. Who is promoting 'inclusion' and who is promoting 'justice'.

So, let’s unpack it a little 

The first part of the quote says 

‘You can DEI your way into equality, maybe even equity, but you cannot DEI your way into justice’. 

What I like about this is it highlights there is a difference between the three 

Firstly, there is a difference between equity and equality, which is why you might of seen a lot of universities changing their ‘equality’ terms into ‘equity’ 

• Equality: everyone is treated the same, equal resources and opportunities.
• Equity: recognises that each individual has different circumstances that means people are given what they need to ensure equality. 

Basically, equality is the goal, but equity is the means to get there 

• Justice: refers to how this is being done in regard to the past, present, and future, and how equity looks in the long-term. 

We then are met with my favourite part of the quote 

“justice is not inclusion (into a violent system), but r/evolution into a new way of organising and living and dying”

If you are ‘including’ everyone into the system, you are still ignoring the fundamentally flawed system itself, that creates an environment that makes real justice hard to flow within. Equality does not ensure equity, and equity does not ensure long-term, sustainable justice. 

The final part highlights the importance of looking at 

“Resources and care; power and deservability; accountability & rest”

I believe these things mean many different things to different people, but even just mentioning these things highlights how when we discuss equality or equity they do not always come into conversation, but in justice, they are always considered; they are centred. 

When we see EDI work at play in the institution, or discuss EDI with those who do not fully understand it, if there is not a discussion around the violent systems that have resulted in the need for EDI work, and no discussion around how to completely deconstruct and reconstruct these systemic injustices that are built into the fibres of the space, then you can do EDI work but not justice. 

Virtue signalling, thinkers, and doers

The term virtue signalling comes to mind, and an experience I had while listening to a podcast.

I first heard this term in the podcast ‘No Stupid Questions’ with economist Stephen Dubner and research psychologist Angela Duckworth, and it changed my mindset as well as my actions. 

“Virtue signalling is defined at the act of publicly expressing opinions in order to demonstrate that you are a good person”

In EDI contexts for the university as an institution, this means the university appears to promote equity and justice, without really promoting equity and justice. It is also what's described as 'performative' or 'just for show'. 

They include you within a system that is inherently colonialist in its structures and white in its systems of power – how can justice be effectively met in this space? How much needs to be negotiated, and how much are we willing to? 

On a more individual level, the podcast also talked about how there are three types of people: 

• Doers 
• Thinkers 
• Charmers 

I realised when I listened to the podcast, I had been guilty of virtue signalling myself, and related more to being a ‘thinker’ than a ‘doer’ – I set out to become a doer and to DO the work, not just think it or charm my way through it 

I mention virtue signalling and different types of people to both allow individuals to reflect within themselves if this is something they are guilty of, and to encourage others to notice when it might be happening around us.

This is why I stress the point: what is your EDI work for? And does it reproduce the harmful colonial structures we currently enact ourselves within? If so, how can we being to rectify this?

I will be presenting soon at AdvanceHE EDI conference 2023 with my two colleagues Iman Khan and Naomi Alormele to address these questions, a link to the programme can be found here. Follow along to stay updated in the session, and a future blog to come of it!

So, I ask you to reflect on these things: 

• Are you a doer or a thinker?
• Do you promote EDI work or justice?
• Did you read the quote again?