Who benefited the most from DEI policies?

Since joining the White House, President Trump has attacked Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs. One of his first Executive Orders was on this subject.

The President's team has also created a discourse that portrays DEI initiatives as putting unqualified people in important positions. The Washington, D.C., plane crash is a perfect example.

His closer allies have also targeted the concept, even before Mr. Trump took office. Last year, Elon Musk posted about it on X. "DEI is just another word for racism," he said.

However, race is but a small component of DEI policies, which encompass diverse programs, from hiring guidelines to any initiative to accommodate the workplace to specific needs.

A perfect example of a well-known DEI policy is paternal leave and any other program to accommodate the workplace for mothers, like lactation rooms.

Parity and equality programs, such as those addressing pay gaps between male and female coworkers, fall under the DEI umbrella.

The examples are perfect to illustrate how, according to experts, white women are the demographic group that has benefited the most from DEI policies in the workplace.

According to Forbes, non-profit studies have shown that African Americans face more workplace discrimination than their counterparts.

The magazine cited a McKinsey study that said white women hold nearly 19% of all C-suite positions. In comparison, racial and ethnic minority women only have 4%.

"Overall, white women have benefited disproportionally from corporate DEI efforts," the magazine said.

Still, white women largely supported President Trump in the 2024 election. According to AP News, 53% of white women voted for him, surpassed only by white men (60%).

In turn, the new Administration attacked the initiatives that benefited them most. They have dismantled most of the DEI divisions in federal agencies and put thousands of employees on hold.

President Trump's first-day executive orders that prohibited DEI initiatives inside the federal government promted agencies to adjust by eliminating diversity programs, or even communication initiatives that highlited the profiles of diverse workers.

The changes might deepen soon, given that the new Administration started massive layoffs of probational workers, and will likely move to other public servants after.

The policy will not only affect dismissed employees but also people who benefited from DEI policies, even in the private sector, which has already cut back some initiatives following the White House.

White women were not the only beneficiaries of DEI policies. According to CNN, other heavily benefited groups were LGBTQ+ individuals, disabled people, and Veterans.

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