As a first$-$year associate at a major New York City marketing firm, Bogdana has become very familiar with the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion $($DEI$)$ in marketing. Which of the following statements is true regarding DEI?

Inclusion refers to people$$s race, religion, gender, ethnicity, nationality, socioeconomic status, age, and abilities.

DEI initiatives are exclusively applied in a management context.

Research demonstrates that almost $50$ percent of consumers find diversity and inclusion to be essential.

Equity refers to fairness in procedures, processes, and distribution of resources.