Included Series. EDI with Cohesion Collective Episode 6 - Defining equality

Egbe Adeoye, host of ALV (formerly #TTARadio) continues her conversation with Roy Gluckman, the founder of Cohesion Collective (CoCo).

You can't talk about talent without talking about representation. As Egbe says, "when I have role models that look, sound like, think like me, I am inspired to be more and do more". 

In South Africa, we come from a history where 'difference' was used for purposes of segregation to the extent that recognizing the reality that people are different is something often scoffed at. This is the reason why some people believe that the best way to relate to people is to see no difference and treat everyone the same way. However, treating everybody as if they are the same ignores the reality that historically, we have walked different journeys. We were not the same, to begin with, and we are not starting at the same place. Roy puts things into perspective when he says, “privilege and disadvantage transfer.”

The call to action: To ensure an environment of equality, treat different people differently in order to give them access to equal opportunities. 

TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE 
Legislation is a blunt tool to drive change- 03:52 
Employment equity and BEE bring up emotion- 05:25
The understanding of equality- 08:06
People are different - 09:05
Legislation as the trusses of the roof- 11:43
Legislation supporting change- 12:07
Countering the lack of opportunity claim- 13:04
Treating different people differently in order to have access to equal opportunities- 14:09
Transformation is not about lowering standards-16:21
Creation of support- 16:30 
Empathy- 18:01 
Solutions for inequality- 22:22
Using available tools to be more and do more - 25:55