Diversity fatigue through the lens of a middle aged white guy

Joanne Lockwood is joined by Scott McArthur to explore “diversity fatigue” and what happens when inclusion conversations become polarised, overly labelled, or reduced to training and statistics that don’t shift culture.

Scott shares professional and personal reflections from his background in HR and employee experience work, including why storytelling changes people more than facts, and how cognitive diversity and community can help create better dialogue. Together they discuss men’s experiences of feeling sidelined in DEI conversations, the unintended consequences of labels, and the importance of creating spaces where people can ask questions, admit uncertainty, and speak without fear.

The conversation also touches on mental health and vulnerability, including the stigma men can face when expressing emotions and the links to male suicide. They discuss Scott’s work with the Whole Man Academy, the role of connection and community, and how workplace practices may need to evolve towards more individualised approaches rather than one-size-fits-all policies.