Neoliberal Populism: “Diversity and Inclusion” as Appropriation of Feminisms

• In Event: Communication as Human Rights Politics: Digital Natives, Censorship, Diffusion, and Appropriation

Abstract

“Diversity and Inclusion” has become a motto and a policy goal in various settings, including academia, intergovernmental organizations, and even the entertainment industry. What does the term mean, in general, and for feminist studies and women’s rights, in particular? Pointing to the parallel rise of new feminist theories and neoliberal economic paradigm, this paper offers a critical analysis of the current politics of “diversity and inclusion.” Engaging both theory and empirical observations, it examines various rhetorical changes and their demographic reflections in national and international institutions, such as the United Nations. It describes the changes in discourse as appropriation of feminist language and the recently adopted policies of diversity and inclusion as partial accommodation of some feminist demands and women’s rights geared towards changing demographic compositions, or looks, rather than adopting new outlooks.

Author

• Zehra F. Kabasakal Arat, University of Connecticut-Storrs