Gender diversity is a term used to describe fair and equitable representation of people of different genders. It most commonly refers to an equitable ratio of men and women, but also includes people of intersex gender. Gender diversity is not limited to the binary framework of male and female, but also includes gender identities that demonstrate a diversity of expression beyond the binary framework. Gender diverse people may identify as non-binary, genderqueer, or X gender.
Gender diversity is important in various fields, including corporate boards, computing, engineering, medicine, and science. A gender-diverse workforce enables better problem-solving and decision-making processes, as men and women have different viewpoints, ideas, and market insights. Gender diverse organizations were also shown to benefit from increased customer understanding and satisfaction.
It is important to recognize that many cultures throughout history have recognized gender diversity beyond masculine and feminine. However, there are often misunderstandings that report of there being hundreds of genders, each with unique rules, language, and pronouns. A lot of these claims are exaggerated, taking into account very niche and specialized terms, or very personal explorations of gender. Umbrella terms such as non-binary, genderqueer, or X gender are adequately broad descriptors for gender diverse people.
In summary, gender diversity is about acknowledging and respecting that there are many ways to identify outside of the binary framework of male and female. It is important to create a safe, inclusive culture for all employees, regardless of their gender identity.