Tokenistic

Tokenistic describes actions or practices that appear to be inclusive or diverse but are merely symbolic, superficial, and often done to create a positive image without genuine commitment to addressing underlying issues of inequality or discrimination. These efforts usually involve including a few individuals from underrepresented groups without making systemic changes. The focus is often on optics rather than substantive change, and it can often be seen as a performative act designed to placate critics rather than create meaningful progress. The inclusion can feel like a performative diversity to achieve popularity, but will often be used as a marketing tool to appeal to a wider audience.

Tokenistic meaning with examples

• The company's hiring of a single Black executive to its board was seen as tokenistic. It seemed more like a public relations move than a genuine effort to diversify leadership and address issues of racial inequality within the company. This appointment lacked the systemic change, and therefore was tokenistic.
• The university's introduction of a 'diversity week' program with minimal follow-up initiatives felt tokenistic. The event provided the illusion of addressing issues around inclusion on campus but failed to tackle the root causes of bias and discrimination students of color experienced. The entire exercise felt tokenistic.
• The advertising campaign featuring one model from an underrepresented community amongst a sea of others, designed to be representative felt tokenistic. The brand's actions didn't reflect a larger commitment to diverse representation across its product lines and internal company practices. This approach appeared tokenistic at best.
• The city's installation of a single mural celebrating a particular culture felt tokenistic when there were numerous requests for funding for community centers to serve the very group of people celebrated in the mural. The action was seen as an easy solution, and nothing else seemed to be done, thus tokenistic.