As the women’s movement was unfolding in the late 1960s, all across the country women gathered in small, informal groups called consciousness raising (CR) groups—conversations that helped us identify the societal origins of problems we were facing in our individual lives. Domestic violence, rape, job discrimination, illegal abortion, the lack of birth control—you name it: These were experienced as personal problems, but their origins were in society and required political, not just personal solutions. For so many of us in my generation, “the personal is political” was a rallying call–a call for change not just in our personal lives, but in society and our social institutions.
This was a time (and it wasn’t that long ago) when there were no women in what we studied in school. Colleges were places where women could only wear dresses. Blue jeans, which became the symbol of a generation, were forbidden on campus—until women revolted. Blue jeans were a symbol of the working class and wearing them, as suggested by SNCC (the activist group, Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee), was a symbol of solidarity with the working class. Women demanded their rights—on campus, at home, at work: everywhere!
We embarked on a course of compensatory education, trying to learn through any means necessary all that had been left out of what we were taught. There were few studies about women; even medical science routinely excluded women from research samples. When I was in graduate school (where I had no women professors), what we learned about women came from newsprint pamphlets, our CR groups, and whatever we could put our hands on that taught us about women’s history, lives, artistic contributions, and everyday experiences. This was the birth of Women’s Studies—or what is now often called gender studies.
My compensatory education had to offset all I had not learned about women, about people of color, about LGBTQ experiences—in other words, my education excluded more than half the world’s population. Ironically, the term “compensatory education” at the time usually referred to what was perceived as inadequate education for people of color in racially segregated schools, but we all need an education that teaches us about the full range of human experience.
As time proceeded, our efforts to “integrate” education by including the work, experiences, and contributions of women, people of color, immigrants, and LGBTQ people became institutionalized in women’s studies programs, ethnic and racial studies programs, LGBTQ studies, and—yes–diversity initiatives: the now demonized DEI!
Now the assault on so-called DEI feels like a punch in the gut to me. I have devoted fifty plus years of my education and the education I have passed on to others in the interest of an inclusive, not exclusive, curriculum. Scholarship in these diverse areas of study has flourished and people have learned that having more inclusive educational and workplace settings actually improves performance for ALL groups. What is it that is so threatening about DEI that powerful interests are now trying to wipe it out of every institution?
I’ll hazard a guess that most opponents of so-called DEI cannot tell you what it is. Of course, many of us have sat through boring workshops intended to raise our awareness of “DEI.” A lot of us have raised our understanding of what changes—both personal and political—are necessary to achieve a more fair and equitable society—in all its dimensions. To me, DEI is just about that—respecting and understanding the enormous diversity of people living and working all around us; desiring more equitable (just plain fair) opportunities for people to achieve their dreams; and being inclusive, not exclusive, in how we think and who we think about—and value.
I take the current assault on DEI as a personal affront—an affront on all I have worked for over fifty plus years as a professor, author, and college administrator. The time is frightening and, like many of my friends, colleagues, and family members, most days I just want to crawl in a hole. I feel powerless to change the retrograde actions that are happening all around us, every day. But the changes I have witnessed in my own lifetime are vast and should not be taken for granted. We must speak out even when it feels like there are big risks in doing so.
Even putting these thoughts in print feels scary given the retribution that is now all too common. But I ask you to remember: I am your neighbor, might have been your teacher, am not a criminal. I am an American and love my country, as I hear you do too. But before you post some nasty comment to this letter, I ask you also to think about whether you want your child, your friend, your neighbor to grow up in a country where we learn little, if anything, about people’s experiences other than our own and where powerful interests ask you to ignore the hard work of so many who fought to bring you a more inclusive, just, and open society.
I also ask you to deeply care about anyone, maybe in your family or friendship network, who loves a lesbian or gay daughter or sibling, even when the coming out process asked them to change everything they thought they knew. Love those who cherish and embrace a trans member of the family even when their old beliefs were upended by this reality. Love those who have fully welcomed an interracial couple and their children into an otherwise all white family. Care about anyone from an immigrant background who came to this nation to seek a better life for themselves and their children. Know their experiences; don’t believe the myths.
To all of you, my heart is with you even as I rage!
Dr Margaret L. Andersen is the Elizabeth and Edward Rosenberg Professor Emerita, Founder and Executive Director of the President’s Diversity Initiative, University of Delaware, who lives in Oxford.
Jennifer Beatty Bodine says
A beautiful essay. As a woman who attended law school from 1971-1974, I felt this piece to the bone. How have we sunk so low as to denigrate policies that are meant to uplift everyone including those who are different from ourselves. No DEI experiment passed the bar exam for me. My heart is breaking as well.
Margaret Andersen says
Thank you so much! I am remembering how brave you were speaking out thru your writing in our Forum class! Maggie
Bettye Maki says
Dear Dr. Andersen,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and beliefs. My husband and I back you 100%.
Willard Tod Engelskirchen says
My first wife was a Mexican American. Our daughters were 2nd generation. While one of them was at a mall in North Carolina a person she did not know came up to her and told her she should go back to where she came from. He did not mean Chicago. Both of my daughters have Purdue undergrad degrees. One went to Michigan for grad school the other to Northwestern. This incident happened many years ago. I thought things were getting better. Till Trump. He seems to want to “Make America White Again.” And male too I guess.
Margaret Andersen says
I am sad to say there are many experiences like what you describe. We must resist this asssult on decency! Thank you for writing!
Jim Moses CDR, USN (Ret.) says
A friend was all over me a while back about our “woke/DEI” military, so I sent him this:
US NAVY SENIOR LEADERSHIP
TOTAL WOMEN AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISPANIC
ADMIRAL (4*) 7 1 0 0
VICE ADMIRAL (3*) 28 3 2 0
REAR ADMIRAL (2*) 42 1 3 1
REAR ADMIRAL (1*) 88 3 0 4
USMC SENIOR LEADERSHIP
GENERAL (4*) 3 0 0 0
LIEUTENANT GENERAL (3*) 14 0 2 0
MAJOR GENERAL (2*) 35 3 1 0
BRIGADIER GENERAL (1*) 47 2 5 1
These are only line officers, those eligible for combat command. I did not include specialties like intelligence, medical, oceanography, etc.
(FOR HISPANIC, I COULD ONLY GO BY LAST NAMES)
SUMMARY ACROSS THE NAVY & USMC:
232 WHITE MALE
13 FEMALE
13 AFRICAN-AMERICAN
6 HISPANIC
Source: US Naval Institute Proceedings, Naval Review Issue, March 2024
It looks to me like we still have a lot of room for improvement. I wonder if our Representative from the First District reads the Spy?
Margaret Andersen says
Seriously doubt that our district rep reads the Soy. He ( (Andy Harris) is solidly in Trump’s pocket. It’s distressing but thank you for sharing all that information! In solidarity!
Kristen Greenaway says
Dr. Anderson, thank you.
Margaret Andersen says
Thank you for your support!
Wilson Dean says
It appears that the people pushing the anti-DEI movement are too insecure in their own lives to appreciate anyone who does not adhere to the white/male/heterosexual hierarchical model they worship. In more normal times, we would simply pity them and hope that they broaden their world view. In Trump times, they are dangerous and untrustworthy.
Kathy Bosin says
Amen, sister. Thank you for speaking out!
susan delean-botkin says
Dr. Anderson, thank you so much for writing of your experience and concerns. You are not powerless, you have reignited the memories of of what we went through, and thought we had resolved during our marches, conferences and open discussions. We ARE NOT GOING BACK! Remember the bra burning, the huge marches and demonstrations on the Washington Mall? We were standing up for ourselves, speaking for ourselves and making decisions for ourselves. I remember my aunt, who worked for the FBI could not buy a house in her name alone – she was a single woman. I remember being told I could not apply for certain jobs, nor apply to Georgetown University – men only (though years later, I got my advanced degrees from G’Town – Ha!)
About 30 years ago when I started practicing medicine, contraception was not covered for women -until viagra came on the scene – The medical community fought for equity- it took legislation for birth control pills to be covered as viagra was.
We are not powerless – We, the people, must stand up and speak out- we speak for all, we speak for justice, truth, equity and all will benefit. Take heart – there are hundreds of millions of good people who feel the way you do. WE WILL NOT GO BACK!
Margaret Andersen says
Thank you so much for your thoughtful reply! We are neighbors! We all have to hang together to resist these really frightening times. Maggie
Charles Barranco says
Dr. Anderson,
Excellent article, I’m glad you wrote it!
Hopefully, it will not fall on deaf ears.
Tina Jones says
Dear Dr. Andersen,
Thank you for standing up. I’ll stand with you.
Sharron Cassavant says
Kudos to you for speaking out against the tide of willful ignorance. Christian ethics tell us to “love thy neighbor as thyself.” No translation of that gospel suggests that love should be extended only to people just like myself.
Tolerance, respect and understanding are the civic virtues upon which democracy depends.
Despite the darkness of the times, I have hope that we’ll get trough it and move ahead.
Margaret andersen says
Thank you! We must speak out in any ways we can. Best to you! Maggie Andersen
John Fischer says
You have many outstanding accomplishments in your life, Dr. Anderson, and have every right to be proud of them. Most of us who oppose the manner in which DEI has been implemented would salute you. For it is not the objective to create a more diverse workforce we oppose but the often active subjugation of merit in the search for that end.
Jack Batty says
Wise and calm response to the anti-DEI hysteria from an expert who has spent a lifetime studying and writing on this subject.
Kent Robertson says
I think what most conservatives want is a return to merit-based hiring, In government and in private businesses. We want everyone to be judged on the content of their character, not on the color of their skin.(Thank you, Dr King)
We all really want the same things:
-To feel safe.
-To have equal opportunity to achieve our hopes and dreams. (Not equality of outcomes.)
-Our children to get a great education.
-Financial security.
The list is endless, but instead we focus on our differences and hurl insults at each other.
I think much of our polarization is the result of two different sets of “facts”, which are most often half-truths , exaggerations, or outright lies.
I encourage everyone to make a point of sitting down with someone on the “other” side. Really listen to why they feel the way they do. Try to hear their set of “facts”. Listen to the other side’s media. In almost every case the real truth will be somewhere between the hype spewed by both R and L wing media…but you will have a difficult time finding unbiased reporting.
It is critical that we build bridges and mend fences if we are to have effective government. The current climate is damaging friendships and families.
Deirdre LaMotte says
Dr. Anderson, thank you for your wise words. Having gone to a rather radical women’s college, which was eye opening to this former Republican, I so appreciate this. Of course,now I have seen the light, 🤣, yet can also
understand the clan mentality of the “Republican” Party. There are racist, misogynist and prehistoric opinions
among many in the Party. My friends and I always gave them a pass as “fringe”. Now, they are the party of Trump,
and the hateful rhetoric is a valued part of being in the “party”.
I do not know how we can escape all this. No one seems energized, possibly from exhaustion.
ANGELA M RIECK says
Wonderfully done, Maggie. Those of us who remember the days of our limited education, limited by the lack of DEI, limited by professors who didn’t look or understand us. Thank you for reminding us how important DEI is.
Reed Fawell 3 says
“The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race.”
And so at long last our system of justice and rule of law finally has settled this plague of racism in America, thanks to the US Supreme Court and its most ruling on the issue as enforced by the Trump Administration.
Pat Thatcher says
Thank you Maggie for a true humanist response! I was fortunate to learn from and with you at UD in the mid 80s. All seemed possible and open. I want to keep your generous approach to people as people, with LGBTQIA family, gender queer neighbors, multiple pronouns for my kids, head scarves on my female students, right wing t-shirts at the dining hall, authentic army fatigues. We all love, hurt, cry, laugh. How dare this elected and unelected crew seperate us from each other.
Lisa Swann says
Excellent essay! My mother’s generation, from WW2, didn’t really have many career choices other than teacher, nurse or secretary. Thank you Maggie and the legions of other women who made it possible for me to anchor a newscast, serve as Press Secretary to a U.S. Senator, and V.P. of a nonprofit organization. Great memories of a career in DC made possible by women who came long before me. Now I am active in fighting for DEI through activism, as a retiree. Fight on!
Anne Walker says
Thank you Margret for writing this, and for all your work in and out of classrooms! I am equally sad, frustrated, and angry with the current rhetoric about DEI!
Jacqueline Kreinik says
Those who defy the diversity of humans negates the beauty within the flower kingdom, the many and diverse bird songs that grace the air we breathe and the varied animals who contribute to our lives. Diversity is being part of nature. Ask yourself why the hatred towards us as humans if not simply to control. Do not acquiesce…speak out for being part of nature.
Thank you for your comments, Dr. Andersen.
Joan M Bohan says
Thank you for this honest, impassioned essay. I am a high school teacher in a district who is being advised by the IDL and whose school board is particularly conservative. I believe in teaching ALL children and welcoming them in my heart and classroom. We need more people willing to post such sage and insightful opinions. I appreciate this more than you can imagine.