What does being a diversity candidate mean when seeking employment?

Answer 1

Means that that person applying for employment is from a protected group that has historically been numerically underrepresented in that specific institution, organization, or profession. These may include persons who are members of certain race/ethnic, gender, and/or ability status (disabled) groups. These are racial/ethnic "minority" groups, women, persons with disabilities, and in some instances men, such as when applying for a position in which males have traditionally been underrepresented. The latter include professions such as K-12 teaching, nursing, etc. which have been positions held historically and predominantly by women. Of course, the "other side of the coin" of this are those professions in which women have traditionally not been represented such as higher education (college and university) teaching where historically most professors have been men.

"Diversity candidate" is a meaningless term. Only GROUPS, not individuals, have measurable degrees of non-uniformity on specified factors, that is, diversity. No single candidate can contribnute to the skill, experience, tenure, licensure, or educational diversity of a workforce. Whether a candidate might add to a workforces appearance diversity (race or sex) is legally and practically irrelevant. Employers subject to EEO law can never give race or sex any weight.

Just remember that a WHITE candidate would increase the race diversity of an all-Black or all-Asian workforce. That does not make Whites diversity candidates. And the White candidate's race, like the Black or Asian candidates race, is given zero consideration.