Does DEI Have A Misogyny Problem? (Ft. Gareth Roberts)

Have you noticed that many of the loudest voices in DEI are men’s – and some get really angry when they’re challenged by women? Same here! So let’s get into it.

Which men are drawn to DEI, how much damage are they doing – and is it just a weird coincidence that many of them are gay? 

The writer Gareth Roberts – himself a (lovely!) gay man; and the author of Gay Shame – agrees that something dark is happening, and women need to wise up. 

In this episode Gareth and Tanya explore the outsized influence of the high-profile men in DEI, and scrutinise the tactics they use to push their own supposedly ‘inclusive’ agenda – whether the rest of us like it or not.

We also highlight examples of some of their most shocking behaviour. 

And, yes, we name names. 

They’ve posted their thoughts publicly, so why not? Game on.

Tanya and Gareth discuss:

WHICH MEN ARE ATTRACTED TO DEI – AND WHY? Gareth says the allure of soft power, glitzy events and the chance to talk about themselves(!) can be an intoxicating mix…

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WOMEN CHALLENGE THEM? Gareth reacts to some of their most aggressive responses to reasonable questions from women on Linkedin. Why does one of DEI’s biggest blokes feel so confident calling gender critical women ‘TERFs’ on public platforms? And is it time he apologised for accusing mild-mannered employment lawyer Audrey Ludwig of ‘sealioning’ for daring to disagree with him?

WHAT RISKS ARE THESE MEN CREATING FOR THE ORGANISATIONS THEY WORK FOR? Would an employment tribunal share the view that everyone is welcome in the ‘inclusive’ culture they claim to have created? Can you declare yourself an Elon Musk fan in a workplace policed by their team? And why haven’t they recalibrated since Donald Trump’s victory, and the Cass Review?

WHICH GROUPS ARE AN AFTERTHOUGHT IN THEIR ‘INCLUSIVE’ CULTURE? Do the in-house DEI guys allocate enough resource to disability, social mobility, pregnancy and motherhood? Or are they using their power to prioritise their own pet causes, and bring in iffy trainers they are too cosy with?

WHO ARE THE ‘MALE ALLIES’ – AND WHAT MOTIVATES THEM? Does painting their nails really challenge gender stereotypes – and why are some of them so keen to talk about menstruation? And – while they claim to be helping women – are they actually dividing us? 

Buckle up, boys...

Enjoy the episode!

Gay Shame by Gareth Roberts is available on Amazon https://amzn.to/4l2iNs7

00:00 Introduction
02:33 Men's outsized role in DEI
03:56 The Role of Men in DEI and HR
04:37 Business risks for HR and DEI
06:04 Why are gay men drawn to DEI?
09:24 Unhealthy workplace dynamics
11:47 Are 'Karens' fair game?
13:42 Why DEI guys feel familiar
16:20 Reactions to challenge and dissent
19:21 Case study: Kemi Badenoch and David Tennant
21:52 The Evolution of Gender Identity Politics
22:52 Case study: Single sex spaces
24:40 Case study: John Amaechi lashes out
28:24 The trans issue: A flashpoint for fury?
30:45 Gay men and cancel culture
31:11 The Evolution of Gender Discourse
33:06 Can they back-pedal now?
36:33 Misogyny and Gender Perspectives
37:34 Weaponising their 'lived experience'
38:54 Personal Wounds and Professional Roles
39:17 Victim or bully?
43:24 The Impact of DEI on Workplace Culture
43:44 Past pain - just an excuse?
45:47 Too much focus on 'LGBT'?
46:59 Failure to recalibrate DEI strategy
51:54 Dismissing gender critical women's cases and concerns
54:47 Glitter and glitz: The lure of the DEI 'scene'
01:00:21 LGBT Staff Networks case study: Network Rail
01:03:08 Time for a change?
01:04:33 Who are the 'male allies'?
01:06:04 The Future of DEI in a Changing Economy