ABSTRACT
The purpose of this chapter is to offer an overview of diversity and inclusion. The author defines diversity as “the presence of socially meaningful differences among members of a dyad or group” and considers inclusion “the degree to which employees are free to express their individuated self and have a sense of workplace connectedness and belonging.” Next, the author conceptualizes the different diversity forms, including surface-level and deep-level characteristics. The final section includes a summary of factors that have contributed to an increased interest in diversity and inclusion: fairness and justice, changing demographics, legal mandates, social pressures, negatives of exclusion, and the value of diversity and inclusion.
