Walmart rolls back crucial diversity policies amid anti-woke movement
- Walmart is altering its diversity policies in response to rising public opposition to DEI initiatives.
- The company will stop funding certain sexual and transgender products marketed to children while reviewing all community grants.
- These changes signify a broader trend among major corporations shifting away from established DEI practices.
In recent developments, major U.S. corporations, including Walmart, have reversed their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. These changes come after public pressure against what some label as 'woke' initiatives. Walmart initiated these revisions after discussions with Robby Starbuck, an activist and filmmaker advocating against such policies, though the company insists these adjustments have been in progress for several years. Among the key decisions made by Walmart is the removal of specific products marketed to children that conflict with their new guidelines, as well as halting funding for grants to Pride events deemed inappropriate. Furthermore, Walmart announced the discontinuation of its Racial Equity Center and plans to replace the term 'DEI' with 'belonging' in official communications. The company is among several, including Ford and John Deere, that have ceased participation in the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index, indicating a significant shift in corporate America’s approach to diversity initiatives.