5 Things / the “full self” fallacy

Inclusion at its core, is about creating spaces where everyone feels safe to be authentically themselves, to "bring their full selves to work." And we're told (and frankly, I tell others) that the true rewards of DEI (creativity, innovation, profit, etc) come when employees bring their full selves.

This week I've had some impactful conversations about what that means in reality. The fear of looking weak is real, yet the chorus to "bring your full self" gets louder by the day. Even on teams with inclusive leaders, is that a realistic ask? Where's the line?

For many people, for many different reasons, there are a lot of boundaries around "full self." Strained friend / family / relationship dynamics? Generational trauma? Perhaps not. What about chronic health conditions? Plenty of people take those off the table, too. 

Finding the right balance of what "full self" means can be difficult, which is one reason I've long admired Tyson Food's Chaplain program that provides non-denominational chaplains to support employees through a variety of life challenges. Such programs can create spaces for employees to confidentially process their "stuff" without having to risk vulnerability around their manager and team. 

Here are some of the other good vibes I learned this week:

• Across all company-owned stores, McDonald's achieved gender pay parity. The company employs more than 180k people (excluding franchises). This matters because the gender pay gap is significant, and it takes significant intention and resources to fix. Just last week was Latina Equal Pay Day, the day that represents when Latinas working full time catch up to what's earned by white men in one year. In other words, It takes Latinas an extra 10 months to earn the equivalent. Pay equity matters.
  
  

• If often pains me to shout-out systems that should never have been exclusive in the first place, but progress is progress. Google has updated its image search algorithms to showcase more diversity when users search for terms such as "beautiful skin" and "professional hairstyles." This matters because there's no one way to be beautiful or professional, yet search results have historically not showcased that.
  
  

• AMC Theaters will now include showings with closed captions for every newly released film at 240 locations throughout the U.S. Previously, people with hearing impairment had to request a special device for closed captions. These showings build upon that adaptation. 
  
  This is timed well for the release of Marvel's The Eternals, which will feature the franchise's (and possibly any) first deaf superhero, Makkari. Her deafness is one of her superpowers. This matters because hearing impaired people are seldom represented in any media, which presents a lack of "possibility models" for young people.
  
  

• On the topic of disabilities, check out this best-in-class Guide for Guests with Disabilities on the New York Yankees website. The page even includes the location of electrical outlets where guests can recharge wheelchairs and other medical equipment. The stadium also provides access to sensory kits, which include fidget toys and noise-cancelling headsets. This matters because everyone should be able to enjoy the game, regardless of their ability.  

Image by Nino Yang