Precariousness of Equity Work: The Impact of Anti-DEI Action on Chief Diversity Officers in Higher Education

• In Event: The Challenges and Perils of Doing DEI Work in Higher Education

Abstract

Anti-diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies have increasingly targeted college campuses, resulting in precarious working conditions for chief diversity officers (CDOs). This paper explores the personal impact of these challenges through 40 qualitative interviews with CDOs at four-year public universities. Utilizing a framework of precarious work, the study highlights how anti-DEI policymakers and leaders use precarious working conditions as mechanisms of control to deter DEI change. The findings reveal significant mental and physical health challenges, increased social isolation, and heightened career insecurity among CDOs. The paper underscores the consequences of anti-DEI political movements, not only for institutional policies but also for the lived experiences of CDOs.

Authors

• Jeffrey K. Grim, George Mason University

• Erick Aguinaldo, University of Michigan

• Jada Crocker, George Mason University