Every action has an equal opposite reaction. Newton’s law applies to more than just science, however. Its application can be seen in society, government, business, and many other things. Recently, we’ve been seeing many negative reactions to the hundreds of executive orders President Trump has put in place. Some are occurring naturally as a result of his actions, while others are taking place as a retaliation of society.
One example of this is the boycotting of different businesses as a consequence of Trump’s executive order to remove the DEI clause as a requirement for the hiring process. DEI is an acronym for diversity, equity, and inclusion. It was an initiative that was put in place to counteract any discriminatory policies and promote fair treatment towards underrepresented minorities based on race, sexual orientation, religion, disabilities, and so forth. With Trump’s executive order, this set of policies became optional instead of a requirement.
With that, many large corporations immediately got rid of their DEI policy, and society is now retaliating. Some of the biggest companies, including Target, Walmart, and Amazon, were among the many that removed DEI from their policies. People have taken to the streets to protest this, but the most popular form of retribution has been monetary boycotts. At the beginning of March, a 40-day boycott of Target started in correlation with the 40 days of Lent, a Christian tradition leading up to Easter. To summarize, the idea behind this boycott is to protest Target’s removal of the DEI policy by tanking their profit margins for 40 days. According to the Charlotte Post, “Target Corporation’s stock plummeted by approximately $27.27 per share by the end of February, erasing about $12.4 billion in market value.” This boycott is being covered by mainstream media outlets, promoted on social media, and more. Other people are promoting the idea of canceling Prime, Audible, and Walmart Plus memberships. Overall, it seems the companies getting rid of this policy are facing harsh backlash as a result.
On the other hand, companies who have kept their DEI policy have profits soaring more than usual. For example, Ben and Jerry’s, the ice cream company with many different flavors sold in gas stations, convenience stores, and more are selling out off every shelf. When this first started, people took to TikTok to display their alliance and support of Ben and Jerry’s for their move to keep their DEI policy. As this news gained more traction, more and more people supported the company monetarily, and their products were selling out everywhere. The overall support of companies keeping their DEI policy has been overwhelming, and social media and news sources are further covering and promoting it.
Who knows if these boycotts will continue, fade away, or if DEI will forever be optional. Even so, the spread of misinformation and bias has led this country to the spot we are in now. Our biggest companies are showing what is truly important to them, and they are soon facing retaliation because of it. It’s too soon to say if this 40-day Target boycott will be the start of many or if it will even put a dent in their profit margins. Either way, the subject of DEI has made people rethink where they put their money, and this might be the way of thinking for the foreseeable future.
