ACA
Responds to Executive Order on Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping
The September 22, 2020
executive order seeks to combat "division and inefficiency" in
federal contracting by prohibiting contractors from providing employee training
on "divisive concepts." ACA is very concerned that the Executive
Order would place an outright ban on the important work and results stemming
from meaningful training in diversity and inclusion.
The Executive Order issued by the Trump Administration on
September 22, 2020 would prohibit any diversity and
inclusion training that promotes messages which imply that “an individual, by
virtue of their race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist or oppressive,
whether consciously or unconsciously." Without being able to use these
words or concepts, as well as the prohibition of stating that,
"meritocracy or traits such as a hard work ethic are racist or sexist, or
were created by a particular race to oppress another race," would
seriously compromise the effectiveness of diversity and inclusion training.
The September 22, 2020 executive
order seeks to combat "division and inefficiency" in federal
contracting by prohibiting contractors from providing employee training on
"divisive concepts," which it defines as ideas such as:
·
One race or sex is
superior to another
·
The U.S. is
fundamentally racist or sexist
·
Individuals, by virtue
of their race or sex, are inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, either
consciously or unconsciously
·
An individual should
be discriminated against or adversely treated based on race or sex
·
Members of one race or
sex cannot and should not attempt to treat others without respect to race or
sex
·
An individual's moral
character depends on his or her race or sex
·
An individual member
of a particular race or sex bears responsibility for actions committed in the
past by other members of the same race or sex
·
Any individual should
feel discomfort, guilt, anguish or any other form of psychological distress
because of his or her race or sex
·
Meritocracy or traits
such as "hard work ethic" are racist or sexist, or were created by a
particular race to oppress another race
·
Any other form of race
or sex stereotyping or any other form of race or sex scapegoating
Response by the American
Counseling Association:
The mission of the American
Counseling Association is to “promote the professional development of
counselors, advocate for the profession, and ensure ethical,
culturally-inclusive practices that protect those using counseling services.”
With the prohibitions referenced in the Executive Order, the work of
professional counselors, counselor educators, and institutions who employ those
in the counseling profession, would be severely limited.
We are very concerned that the
Executive Order would place an outright ban on the important work and results
stemming from meaningful training in diversity and inclusion. To state that
funding will be withheld from those agencies and grantees who do not adhere to
the Executive Order seems especially punitive and counterintuitive to the
benefit of diversity and inclusion training.
The Executive Order requires the
U.S. Department of Labor to create new standards within the next 60 days, which
effectively means that those engaged in diversity and inclusion training, or
who are considering it at some time during 2020, are now left in limbo as to
whether to pursue this training. Because ongoing diversity and inclusion
training is conducted at institutions of higher education, in the corporate
sector, and in organizations around the country who may receive some amount of
government funding, this Executive Order has a chilling effect on what these
entities need to do to address key issues that help them to continue both
growth and productivity.
The full implications of this
Executive Order and their potential impact the counseling profession will not
be known until it is enacted. ACA will continue to monitor and update on
the progress of this Executive Order.
