Retail corporation and chain discount store Target is ending its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
Target is joining several other American brands that are scaling back DEI commitments due to conservative-related pressures from both right-wing legal groups and conservative customers. This includes the Racial, Equity, Action and Change (REACH) strategy that Target initiated in 2020 following the police killing of George Floyd. The initiative was established to help Black employees pursue careers at Target and to promote Black-owned businesses.
Target was committed to increasing its representation of Black team members across the company by 20% over the next three years. According to The Associated Press, the goals included hiring and promoting more women and members of racial minority groups. Additionally, the company committed to recruiting more diverse suppliers, including businesses owned by people of color, women, LGBTQ+, veterans and those that are disabled.
The company now operates nearly 2,000 stores nationwide and serves millions of consumers daily. Kiera Fernandez, Target’s chief community impact and equity officer, wrote in a memo to employees that the company understands the importance of staying in step with the evolving external landscape, now and in the future.
Career Services Coordinator Gwendolyn Shelton, M.S., shared some of the potential changes students will experience with the removal of DEI programs.
“The removal of DEI programs will hurt our students in terms of getting internships, some jobs, and it’s going to limit the students,” Shelton said.
She also explained why she thinks these corporations are ending their DEI programs.
“Once President Trump came in, he took DEI off the table,” Shelton said. “That was a federal initiative that was put in place. I think that they’re just following Trump’s initiative, but it’s going to be harder now for students. DEI was put in place so there wouldn’t be any discrimination and it helped females get jobs. With that not being in place, you can get discriminated against.”
Senior Associate Athletic Director and Chief of Staff Genese Lavalais, Ph.D., explained how DEI opened the door for many student-athletes at the university.
“DEI’s efforts play a more critical role in talent acquisition and all employee retention,” Lavalais said. “If Target scales back DEI, it will put them at risk of alienating key demographics. Many of our students have benefited from DEI efforts because of the opportunities that it presents, like scholarships and career opportunities.”
“I was shopping at Target because of the inclusive environment and the reputation that they have every time you go,” she said. “There’s a whole bunch of different things that they’ve been representing and ultimately, there will be a lot less representation going forward.”
Ania Pritchett, a junior majoring in psychology, shared her thoughts regarding Target ending its DEI program as well as other big corporations.
“As a student who strongly believes in diversity, Target ending its DEI programs feels like a step backward in fostering inclusivity and equal opportunities,” Pritchett said. “Diversity in the workplace is really important to make sure that everyone feels valued and represented. Target plays a major role in setting that standard for their employees.”
Regarding her personal feelings on the matter, Pritchett explained that “seeing the company scale back on initiatives meant to uplift underrepresented communities is disappointing. It’s frustrating to think that efforts to promote inclusion might be deprioritized.”
Cierra Anderson, a junior majoring in biology, correlates DEI to the career field she would like to enter.
“DEI programs help minorities get into fields where we’re underrepresented, like the medical field,” she said. “Diversity is already limited in a lot of workplaces, so initiatives like DEI help bridge gaps in access and opportunities. Target cutting these programs can significantly reduce diversity and community representation in their corporation.”