Statement on Equity and Inclusion

MMLA Endorsement of an MLA Statement

At its annual meeting on November 2nd, 2023, the Executive Committee of the MMLA voted to endorse the "MLA Statement on Inclusive and Equitable Policies," the substance of which is reproduced below:

The MLA Executive Council supports structural changes to ensure more inclusive and equitable policies in its own and other professional associations.

The Modern Language Association affirms its strong commitment to diversity in its own processes for determining membership, leadership, and scholarly recognition, including in the selecting of awards and bestowing distinctions. Furthermore it acknowledges continued obstacles to achieving this goal faced by the MLA and other professional organizations that have historically favored white male heterosexual nondisabled scholars based in North America or Europe and marginalized many deserving potential participants as a result.

In addition to other documents available on the MLA Web site, we refer members to the Final Report of the MLA Ad Hoc Committee on Diversity and Tolerance which was charged with “working to establish a climate in which all students, faculty, and other college employees, no matter what their religion, race, ethnic identity, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or disability status, can work, learn, and develop together in harmony."