Diversity. Another boring rant?

 Diversity: Another banal, liberal debate? Over the last few weeks, we have been bombarded with countless headlines, breaking news and tweets on the diversity furore in the music and film industry. We witnessed a number of prominent stars boycotting events such as The Oscars, Brits, Press Awards to name but a few, all in the name of diversity. But is that the panacea to the problem?

I am going to bring to the forefront the issue of diversity from a different lens as a racially minoritised Clinical Psychologist. The issue of diversity reverberates through many spheres of society not just in the TV, film and music industry. It is symptomatic of greater issues in our society in general. To think that we are 2023 and the issue of diversity is still felt dismantles the pursuits of many activists who, not in vain, fought for equality and diversity in our society.

I once read a statement by Julian Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada which read; ‘Diversity is the engine of invention. It generates creativity and enriches the world.’ I love the poignancy of this statement. It represents what drew me to write this article. So from reading this statement alone, one would surmise that diversity is the melting point and strength of any thriving sector. So if we are cognizant of this, what is it that stifles diversity in TV and film, in the mental health sector, in education, in society in general? The issue is that we live in a world composed of hegemonic structures which have made it near enough impossible for individuals from diverse backgrounds to permeate through its walls. Something has to change!  I don’t think boycotting  is the answer; it simply adds fuel to the fire. What we need to do is to face these challenges head-on, show up in our numbers and perturb mainstream ideologies and non-existent meritocratic policies on diversity. While it might be a drop in the ocean, the minority need to fashion a ripple effect. What change can we affect in our professions by simply sharing our stories, the battles and the triumphs we have faced as a diverse people?

In these articles, I will share my journey with a few words of inspiration for  minority groups pursuing clinical psychology; a profession handicapped by a dearth of diversity and has now  become a natural reserve for the white middle class female. Interestingly, a recent conference I attended facilitated by Oxford University illustrated the dismal statistics of minority groups entering clinical training. Black Africans/Afro Caribbeans continue to lag behind among all Black and Ethnic Minorities (BME) in terms of acceptance onto the course. Evidently, many systemic factors have continued to alienate high calibre BME’s from the profession, impacting on confidence, persistence and performance during the application process and even beyond qualification.

So what are my plans with these articles? 1. To reflect on my journey into clinical psychology so far- sharing some useful hints and tips that I have found helpful in academic and personal pursuits.

2. To inspire and motivate those who are looking to enter the field of psychology especially those in the early stages of their career (post 16, undergraduates and graduates).

3. To share my interests in areas of psychology which drove me to the field as well as the unhelpful messages/ misconceptions about clinical psychology among BME’s.

4. Blog, document and capture narratives of different professions in the field who come from diverse backgrounds.

I hope that readers will take something away from it that will push them forward in their own individual pursuits, whether in psychology or other careers.

I aim to post once or twice a month to start at least with my next article titled: ‘You want to study reading minds?’: A reaction from an African parent.

So to answer my question, diversity isn’t another boring rant, it is a necessary conversation.

‘Let’s try it without a parachute.’

#psychologyBMEPsychologydiversityinclusion