Diversity

Following a tender process, the Eleanor Glanville Institute at the University of Lincoln is now doing research on equality, diversity and inclusion in philosophy. This has research has been funded by collaboration among eighteen UK philosophy societies. The project will gather and analyse data on demographics and taught provision in philosophy in the UK, assess the strengths and weaknesses in the promotion of EDI in the discipline, propose recommendations to promote EDI in Philosophy, and suggest areas for further research if appropriate.

Diversity resources 

• The APA Resources on Diversity and Inclusiveness includes lists of posters and info sheets, articles and collections, blogs and blog posts, groups and associations, projects and programs and data.
• Diversity Reading List collects high-quality texts in philosophy written by authors from underrepresented groups, available as a searchable database, to help those who want to enrich their reading lists.
• The Deviant Philosopher offers teaching materials on neglected and marginalised philosophers. It offers free downloadable primers, module guides, lesson plans and classroom activities.
• Minorities and Philosophy encourages the creation of new chapters across UK institutions. MAP-UK contains a list of UK MAP chapters, guidance for inclusive events, instructions for starting a new chapter, and offers a mentoring scheme.

Our 2021 report on the underrepresentation of women in philosophy in the UK is available here. It presents data on and assesses the progress made since we produced our first report in 2011, and provides an overview of the many resources and initiatives that have appeared over the last ten years.

The BPA/SWIP Good Practice Scheme

The British Philosophical Association and Society for Women in Philosophy (UK)’s Good Practice Scheme has been running since 2014. The Scheme aims to assist UK philosophy departments, learned societies and journals in ensuring that they have policies and procedures in place that encourage the representation of women in philosophy. The scheme now has a large number of participating institutions, including some overseas departments and learned societies – but we are always delighted to welcome newcomers.

Guidelines for improving accessibility for people with disabilities to Conferences and Public Lectures

The BPA are pleased to announce the release of two new sets of Guidelines, which were devised following the SWIP-UK/BPA conference on ‘The Profession We Want’ in May 2017. The guides, produced in September 2018 by Giulia Felappi, Alex Gregory and Helen Beebee, are aimed at organisers of conferences and public lectures/events, and include information and ideas about how to make the planning and delivery of these events more accessible to people with disabilities. They’re available here:

• BPA/SWIP Guidelines for Accessible Conferences.
• BPA/SWIP Guidelines for Accessible Public Lectures.

Minorities and Philosophy, UK

Minorities and Philosophy (MAP)’s mission is to address structural injustices in academic philosophy and to remove barriers that impede participation in academic philosophy for members of marginalized groups. There are chapters (local institutional groups) in several UK departments, which you can view here.

MAP is happy to hear especially from graduate students (groups or individuals) at UK Philosophy departments  as well as from UK Philosophy academic staff who would like to coordinate graduate student interest in their institutions and to collaborate on MAP chapters. Contact MAP here.