Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Key words: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Authenticity

Wixsite, (2025)

Importance of Authenticity

"Finding Authentic Moments: Avoiding #EpicFails" is an article that shares ways to actually create true meaning campaigns and messaging that a company's values actually align with. 

DEI is important for companies to address but if it contradicts other parts of the company's values it truly becomes pointless to promote DEI as a company. 

Clarity in Campaigns

Dove is a well-known brand known for its “Real Beauty” campaign, which advocates for body positivity. However, it is now under scrutiny for its true authenticity and how it represents its corporate values behind the scenes.

Aligning Values

An article states, “Dove claims to tackle toxic beauty standards while creating toxic rivers” (Diski &Schrank, 2023). From a PR Perspective, taking action to ensure they care about non-toxic beauty is every form is vital. 

Wixsite, (2025)

Equitable Communication

Hurricane Katrina was a catastrophic storm that left many in a horrible situation, and some blamed the poor communication of the government.

The lack of clear understanding of the storm that was about to take place along with slow response time left many in a panic and now have lost trust in their government.

Reforming Reputation

Reforming this reputation is critical and it could begin to heal with sharper proactive management and clear communication. 

Consistency in Public Relations

In 2018 two Black men were waiting for a meeting to start at a Starbucks and were arrested. Starbucks was under fire because there was no good reason for the arrest of the two men.

This now puts Starbucks in a bad light when they have been proclaiming they believe in DEI. Starbucks also took a while to address the issue with the media but they stated they would be educating employees on racial bias (Promrenze & Simon, 2018).

All in all, DEI is important for companies to address but remaining consistent and authentic in one's values all throughout is even more vital.

References

Diski, N. S. and A. (2025, February 17). “real beauty, real harm”: 3 ugly truths behind dove’s “real beauty.” Greenpeace International. https://www.greenpeace.org/international/story/63904/real-beauty-real-harm-3-ugly-truths-behind-doves-real-beauty/ 

Pomrenze, Y., & Simon, D. (2018, May 3). Black men arrested at Philadelphia Starbucks Reach Agreements. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/02/us/starbucks-arrest-agreements/index.html

"Finding authentic moments" avoiding #epicfails". (n.d.)

"Starbucks: two men arrested for doing... not much" (n.d.)

"Hurricane Katrina: A Disaster from Beginning to End" (n.d.)

DOVE: A PURPOSE-DRIVEN BRAND IN A CRISIS OF SINCERITY The Struggle to Navigate Rising Expectations of Corporate Responsibility" (n.d.)