Diversity training should lower barriers, not raise them

Near the end of former President Donald Trump’s tenure, he ordered a restriction on diversity training programs in federal agencies, a move that was promptly reversed at the start of President Biden’s administration. Though I agree with the importance of pursuing diversity, equity, and inclusion in organizations and education, there is a problem with most current diversity training programs: They don’t actually promote diversity.

In fact, instead of taking down barriers between groups, such as those caused by gender or race and ethnicity, most diversity training programs put up even more.