The Cosmetics of DEI and Corporate America's Strategy

DEI, which stands for diversity, equity, and inclusion, emerged as the 'ugly sister' of the lean-in movement, emphasizing the importance of diversity in the workplace. However, the speaker argues that movements like DEI and lean-in are merely cosmetic changes if they don't address the core issues within corporations. The corporate embrace of DEI in the 2010s is portrayed as a tactic to divert attention from class issues and exploit identity for financial gain, leading to the promotion of individuals based on their gender, race, or other cosmetic attributes. The speaker suggests that this approach, while not explicitly illegal, has been used to perpetuate systemic racism and sexism under the guise of diversity initiatives.