The expression “diversity fatigue” is becoming more common, just like “diversity, equity, inclusion” and similar terms we are hearing more often. You may be feeling diversity fatigue if the thought of discussing or even thinking about diversity issues makes you feel dispirited and discouraged. You can experience diversity fatigue in different ways — as a person of color who hears others complain about diversity, or just as someone who is tired of talking about diversity issues. Either way, these discussions can begin to feel pointless, especially when the conversation seems hopeless in terms of creating any positive change. Take it from someone who has had countless discussions on diversity with people who have similar viewpoints and with people who don’t, the topic can be exhausting and leave you feeling as if you’re talking to a brick wall.
However, there are several reasons why you should keep talking about diversity and all its related issues, and several ways to overcome diversity fatigue. It’s vital for all of us to keep the conversation going because studies, like Atlassian’s 2018 tech survey, “State of Diversity and Inclusion in the U.S.,” have shown that if we walk away from the discussion, progress toward a diverse and inclusive world will slow. We’ve come a long way from 1492, but there’s much more progress to be made, and impeding it would be taking two steps backward. While the burden of educating others should not fall on Indigenous communities and communities of color, we can and should work toward continuing the discussion and making sure our voices are heard.
Here are some positive ways to handle diversity fatigue when it’s happening to you.
▸ Remind yourself that change is a community effort and won’t happen overnight. Don’t feel solely responsible for trying to change people’s minds on diversity — that’s a huge burden for a single individual.
▸ It may seem counterintuitive, but the next step is to pull back a bit. Fighting the good fight can easily become overwhelming, frustrating, and extremely tiring. Allow yourself time to rest and recharge, and you’ll be less likely to feel burned out or hopeless about the situation and its numerous challenges.
▸ After showing yourself some self-love, emerge and engage with like-minded folks in your community. Have discussions that remind you why it’s so important to continue talking. Create a space where others can feel safe in expressing their personal diversity issues. Maybe together you can come up with innovative ideas for engaging in a dialogue with the non-like-minded folks in your community.
▸ Remember how you became resilient, intelligent, courageous, and powerful — from our ancestors whose blood and spirit runs through you. As the father of legendary Olympic runner Billy Mills, Oglala Lakota, told his son, “You have to look deeper, way below the anger, the hurt, the hate, the jealousy, the self-pity, way down deeper where the dreams lie, son. Find your dream. It’s the pursuit of the dream that heals you.”
Helina Alvarez, Yaqui, Hopi, and Mexican, was born and raised in southern California. She received her BS in wildlife management and conservation at Humboldt State University. In her sophomore year she was accepted into the Student Career Experience Program (now part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Pathways Program). After graduation Alvarez worked with the service full time for five years as a wildlife refuge specialist on multiple refuges, then was accepted into the Conservation Leadership through Learning Program at Colorado State University. She completed her master’s capstone project in Rwanda and graduated in 2019. Alvarez is still working with the Fish and Wildlife Service and hopes to pursue a PhD in the near future.
