Diversity and Inclusivity

Introduction

The EADH Executive Committee has discussed how the concept of diversity could be defined, and whether the association should engage in the definition of concrete “diversity goals” and of measures to realise these. This has led to the identification of five principles which we now offer to the EADH community in order to solicit feedback.

In publishing this document we invite for comments and discussions of these and related issues among the membership of EADH. Are the five principles sufficiently representative of our members' views, and do they offer a sound platform from which issues relating to diversity might be addressed as and when they arise?

The Executive Committee welcomes not only expressions of concern, but also visions and initiatives that will enable our organization to cultivate and build upon manifestations and practices of diversity. We believe that diversity in its many facets holds a unique potential for digital humanities, and it is this productive potential that we would like to explore in the structures and activities which EADH represents and supports.

We will also be happy to take on the role as advisors or mediators to work with individuals or groups and find solutions to diversity-related problems which they might experience. If you feel personally affected by an issue related to diversity in the digital humanities, please get in touch. Any information will be treated confidentially.

Statement

  1. Diversity is a function of dissimilarity, which in the human and social realm can manifest itself in many different forms and dimensions: material, biological, economical, sociological, political, intellectual, philosophical, cultural, linguistic, ideological, etc.
  2. From an epistemological point of view, all humanities are defined by their critical and analytical interest in the cultural and historical expressions that result from the dynamics of sameness and dissimilarity. Diversity is therefore also a feature that manifests itself in the specific object domains which the DH investigate, and a principled ‘curiosity for diversity’ defines its research ethos.
  3. As an academic association EADH considers the value of diversity from a functional and pragmatic perspective: EADH values diversity where it serves as an enabler in relation to the association's overarching mission and goals, which are defined in terms of its commitment to further the digital humanities as a scholarly practice, and to support the individuals and groups that engage in it as practitioners.
  4. EADH monitors diversity as expressed in its organisational structures and practices. There is no absolute benchmark for diversity: where homogeneity stifles EADH's growth and prevents it from reaching its goals and serving its purpose, EADH will adopt measures to safeguard or increase diversity; where particularism puts the overall identity and purpose of EADH at risk, EADH will adopt measures to safeguard commonality.
  5. EADH is an academic association constituted of individuals who may hold personal beliefs and commit to ethical and philosophical principles that vary. At the same time, all members of EADH share a commitment to the humanities at large, and to the digital humanities in particular. EADH provides the common ground where these individuals meet, negotiating between commonality and individuality by ways of rational and critical discourse, and with a view to furthering their shared goal of bettering our understanding of humanity and its expressions.

Please contact us with any concerns about issues relating to diversity and inclusion.