Is DEI Squeezing Out Young White Men in the US? what is Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)?

Is DEI Squeezing Out Young White Men in the US?

An article titled “The Lost Generation” by Jacob Savage in Compact magazine (December 2025) has reignited a heated debate in the US about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies. The piece argues that DEI initiatives have systematically disadvantaged young white American men, especially in elite sectors like academia, journalism, tech, television, and entertainment.

Core Argument of the Article:

• DEI is not just about promoting diversity — it has become a deliberate program that discriminates against white men.
• Young white men are being excluded from prestigious jobs, academic pipelines, and cultural institutions.
• The author claims this has created a “lost generation” of talented white men who are sidelined despite their qualifications.

Key Examples Cited:

• Academia:
  • White male PhD production and tenure-track hiring sharply declined post-2014.
  • Harvard: White men fell from 39% of tenure-track positions in 2014 to 18% in 2023 (humanities).
  • Elite universities used DEI statements as screening tools.
• Journalism & Media:
  • Major outlets (e.g., Washington Post, The Atlantic) saw white male writers drop significantly.
  • The Atlantic: White staff fell from 60% in 2011 to 36% in 2024.
• Television:
  • White men in lower-level TV writing roles declined from 66% to 55% by 2024.
• Tech:
  • Google: White men dropped from 53% to 46% of workforce (2024).
  • Amazon: Mid-level managers went from 66% white men in 2019 to 55% in 2024.
• Other Sectors:
  • Law school matriculants: White men dropped from 31.2% (2016) to 25.7% (2021).
  • Entertainment, arts, sports, and media also saw declining white male participation.

Broader Context & Reactions:

• The article gained traction after US Vice President JD Vance and Donald Trump Jr. shared supportive posts on X (formerly Twitter).
• Critics argue DEI has left white men “untouched” while prioritizing other groups.
• Supporters of DEI see the claims as exaggerated or part of a backlash against efforts to correct historical inequalities.

Why It Matters?

The debate reflects a larger cultural and political divide in the US:

• One side sees DEI as essential for fairness and representation.
• The other side views it as reverse discrimination that harms young white men.

The article has become a lightning rod for the American Right and is fueling ongoing discussions about merit, diversity, and opportunity in American society.