Leah McGrath: Creating a culture of equity ought to be our goal

I’ve been trying to learn more, to understand better the challenges of building a more equitable culture. In my simplest understanding, diversity is about who is at the table; equity is about how people get to the table. Both are important.

I will never forget hearing the experiences of a teacher I know, who for many years was the only black teacher in her school. She said young black children would see her in the hallway not having met her before, and they would stop to hug her or hold her hand. They just wanted a touch, a smile, a nod of acceptance.

There is something powerful about seeing someone like you in the room. There is a sense of belonging, of pride and of hope. Diversity matters.

I am always surprised in my role with the city of Fishers when groups of students come to hear from Mayor Scott Fadness. Almost without fail, there is a young girl who will linger near me, ask for my picture and want to shake my hand. I take too much for granted in the opportunities I have had.

Watching the movie “Wonder Woman” last year in the theater with my sons, I was completely taken by the first scenes that depicted the fictitious Amazon women on the island. I had never seen nor heard a story told where every leader, every decision maker, every warrior was a woman. It felt foreign and strange, and if I’m honest, I thought it was awesome.

But that is not the goal for women, is it? To live on our own island and exclusively promote one sex over another. The more I consider what our goal ought to be, the closer I get to an answer of equity. How we get there, though, is the million-dollar question and the subject of ongoing debate among some of my friends.

I’ve always resisted the idea of quotas. It’s a short-term solution and not what I want for me. It’s not what I want for women. I personally can’t help but feel offended by the idea that I could be offered a position primarily because I am a woman, rather than because I am the most qualified. My type A, competitive nature doesn’t just want the position, I want to earn it.

Politically, women I know are grappling with a similar tough question: Should women only support female candidates? It may be controversial to say, but I think no. Our goal for women in government and politics ought to be bolder. We are not just going for a quota; that is not equity.

I am encouraged by our female leaders in the Statehouse and that more and more women are joining the ranks of successful entrepreneurs and business leaders in our communities every day. I love seeing women succeed. I want to see more diversity of all kinds in our government, our politics and our civic and business leadership, including more diversity in age, sex, race and ethnicity. I want more diversity in who we consider our “thought leaders.” I want those who come to create their life in Indiana to feel welcomed and included.

So, run women run. Go for that promotion. Get involved. Raise your hand. Raise your voice. Work for it. Earn it. Be the Amazonian I know you can be. Win or lose based on the merits of your efforts. And while you are at it, listen to others who don’t look like you. Lift up others who aren’t at the table yet. Be intentional. Be an empathetic designer of the world you want to live in. That’s how we create more equity. One person at a time. One opportunity at a time. One day.•

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McGrath is deputy mayor of the city of Fishers and is vice chairwoman of the Indiana Republican Party. Send comments to ibjedit@ibj.com.