Universities and workplaces worldwide are becoming increasingly diverse, following a global trend emphasizing the importance of equity across gender, sexual orientation, and ability. In favor of this effort, affirmative action policies have increased since the 1990s. Affirmative action policies give opportunities to underrepresented groups. They do not mean that people are hired solely based on race or gender, but rather that those who may have an inherent disadvantage are not overlooked. While many argue that these policies help reparations and the inclusion of disadvantaged groups, many are against them and view them as a form of reverse discrimination. Such policies have been key to successful inclusion in South America.
Argentina’s Dedication to Diversity
Argentina has enacted a few affirmative action policies to try to level the playing field in the workplace. After Argentina became the first country in Latin America to legalize same-sex marriage in 2010, it started a trend towards inclusion and diversity, with many organizations and popular movements advocating in support. A recent report from the Human Rights Campaign shows that LGBTQ+ inclusion in Argentine workplaces has risen by 120% from 2023 to 2024.
Credit: Paula Kindsvater, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The movement towards inclusion was backed by various government policies, including diversity quotas, to address different demographics. In Argentina, the 2021 trans labor quota requires public sector employers to reserve 1% of jobs for transgender individuals. Because of these quotas, the federal government has been slowly hiring trans employees, although at the present rate, it would take eighteen years to reach the 1% quota. Another quota is for disabled individuals in the public sector (which should be 4% in the country and 5% in the city of Buenos Aires).
Uplifting Marginalized Demographics Across South America
Argentina isn’t the only South American country that has successfully diversified with the help of quotas. Brazil has taken a similar approach with its ethnic quota system and has significantly boosted the number of Black graduates entering professional sectors since 2012. This system reserves 50% of admissions to the top Brazilian public universities for students from public high schools, prioritizing those from disadvantaged backgrounds. In 2023, the 10th anniversary of this law was marked with data showing that it had contributed to a 400% increase in the number of Black students attending Brazilian universities. While Argentina’s policies focus more on gender and LGBTQ+ inclusion, Brazil’s example highlights the potential of such measures to drive social mobility and economic progress.
Progress Creates Opposition
Despite studies finding that affirmative action programs indeed served to improve outcomes for ethnic, religious, or racial minorities, public opinion varies deeply. In 2024, Argentina rolled back the bill that guaranteed equal representation for men and women on company boards in Buenos Aires, following a growing trend against inclusive policies like the ban on the use of inclusive language. Javier Milei, the president of Argentina, has declared that feminism hinders economic progress, indicating that this bill rollback may just be the beginning of a diversity regression.
Continuing to push for more inclusive policies and ensuring their effective implementation will be essential to maintaining advances in workplace diversity. However, more than simply having a place in the workforce is required. In my opinion, fostering an inclusive workplace where everyone feels safe and respected requires educating ourselves about diverse cultures and showing respect for our differences with our colleagues, always showing the same esteem to every coworker regardless of their identity.
Encourage DEI in your organization with programs tailored to your needs. Find out how we can support you on your DE&I journey.
