tokenism

From token +‎ -ism.

tokenism (countable and uncountable, plural tokenisms)

A policy of formally complying with efforts to achieve a goal by making small, token gestures; especially to hire a minimal number of ethnically diverse or disadvantaged people.
- 2004 April 27, Matthew Tempest, quoting Norman Baker, “Green groups dismiss climate change 'tokenism'”, in The Guardian‎:
  We know the prime minister regards environmental matters as mere tokenism. But we at least expected his ritual once-a-year speech on the issue.
- 2020 July 9, Mark Brown, quoting Anish Kapoor, “Anish Kapoor says art gallery 'tokenism' with diversity must end”, in The Guardian‎:
  Contemporary museums, they need to stop tokenism. Collect an Iranian artist here, a South African artist there or whatever. They need to really begin to try to properly take on … what is contemporary culture today?

policy of formally complying with efforts to achieve a goal by making small, token gestures

English