Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

tokenism

Noun

/ˈtoʊ.kə.nɪ.zəm/

Definition

The practice of making only a symbolic effort to be inclusive, often by having a few people from underrepresented groups to give the appearance of diversity.

Examples

Hiring one woman to serve on the board was seen as a case of tokenism, rather than a true commitment to gender equality.
The program was criticized for its tokenism, as it included just a few members of marginalized communities.

Meaning

Tokenism refers to actions that are intended to show a superficial or symbolic effort towards equality or representation without meaningful inclusion or support.