PDW 02 – Approaching Diversity beyond the Concept of Identity [hybrid]
Call for Applications
Facilitators:
Yvonne Benschop, Radboud University, The Netherlands
Bontu Lucie Guschke, Freie
Universität Berlin, Germany
Eline Jammaers, Hasselt University, Belgium
Sine Nørholm Just, Roskilde University,
Denmark
Emmanouela Mandalaki, NEOMA Business School, France
Koen Van Laer, Hasselt University, Belgium
Alice
Wickström, Gothenburg School of Business, Sweden
Purpose
The overall goal of this PDW, hosted by
the EGOS Standing Working Group (SWG) 02: “Pushing the Boundaries of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Theorizing Transformative
Change in Organizations”, is to provide a platform for scholars interested in advancing (organizational) research in the field
of diversity, equity and inclusion beyond individualist and identity-centered approaches. This PDW aims to offer interested
doctoral students, junior scholars and more experienced faculty an opportunity to explore and reflect on conceptual and methodological
tools that do not approach diversity and connected inequalities as brought into the “neutral container” (Janssens & Zanoni,
2021) of the organization but as fundamentally co-constituted through forms of organizing.
Oftentimes, diversity
is explicitly or implicitly conceptualized as something that individuals have (Ely, 1995). This has not only severe consequences
for which diversity policies are perceived as appropriate (Dobbin & Kalev, 2022) but also implies an onto-epistemological
position that takes the individual and its agency for granted. This underestimates that intersecting inequalities are first
and foremost reproduced and inextricably embedded in everyday practices and socio-material arrangements (Barad, 2003).
Therefore, we welcome papers – at early or advanced stages of development – that engage with researching diversity beyond the concept of individual identities by applying for example communication/discourse centered (e.g., Dobusch, 2017; Plotnikof et al., 2022), space-related (Van Laer et al., 2023), new materialist (e.g., van Amsterdam et al., 2023), fundamentally relational/more-than-human (e.g., Cozza & Gherardi, 2023), practice-theoretical perspectives (e.g., Janssens & Steyaert, 2019) or advancing research into gendered or racialized organizational structures (Acker, 2006; Ray, 2019).
In addition, we welcome papers that use methodological approaches that allow for decentering individual experiences such as ethnographic and arts-based methodologies (e.g., Gherardi, 2019) as well as action research methodologies (e.g., Bleijenbergh, 2023).
By
bringing together scholars interested in these perspectives, we want to provide a platform for exchange and support to advance
diversity research beyond the concept of identity.
Hybrid format
The PDW will start with a brief
introduction to the background and aims of the event from the organizers and facilitators, followed by an introduction round
of the participants. The workshop will allow for an in-depth engagement with each submitted paper and ends with a closing
panel where participants discuss the potential of theorizing and researching beyond the individual/identities. The focus is
on on-site participation, but based on interest we will also provide online subgroups for paper discussions and feedback.
Moreover, the plenary will be livestreamed to online participants and the organizers will ensure that online participants
can take part in the discussion.
Application
To be considered for the workshop, please submit – via the EGOS website – by April 30, 2024 a single document of application (.doc, .docx or .pdf file) that includesA cover page with full details of name, affiliation and email address;
A short statement of motivation for participation (200 words);
A proposal for a working paper or a draft of the paper.
References
Acker, J. (2006): “Inequality regimes: Gender, class, and race in organizations.” Gender and Society, 20 (4), 441–464.
- Barad, K. (2003): “Posthumanist performativity: Toward an understanding of how matter comes to matter.” Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society, 28 (3), 801–831.
- Bleijenbergh, I. (2023): “Feminist action research.” In: S. Katila, S. Meriläinen, & E. Bell (eds.): Handbook of Feminist Research Methodologies in Management and Organization Studies. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar, 107–122.
- Cozza, M., & Gherardi, S. (2023): “Posthuman feminism and feminist new materialism: towards an ethico-onto-epistemology in research practices.” In: S. Katila, S. Meriläinen, & E. Bell (eds.): Handbook of Feminist Research Methodologies in Management and Organization Studies. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar, 55–71.
- Dobbin, F., & Kalev, A. (2022): Getting to Diversity: What Works and Doesn’t. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
- Dobusch, L. (2017): “Gender, Dis-/ability and Diversity Management: Unequal Dynamics of Inclusion?” Gender, Work & Organization, 24 (5), 487–505.
- Ely, R.J. (1995): “The role of dominant identity and experience in organizational work on diversity.” In: S. Jackson & M. Ruderman (eds.): Diversity in Work Teams: Research Paradigms for a Changing Workplace. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, 161–186.
- Gherardi, S. (2019): “Theorizing affective ethnography for organization studies.” Organization, 26 (6), 741–760.
- Janssens, M., & Steyaert, C. (2019): “A practice-based theory of diversity: Respecifying (in)equality in organizations.” Academy of Management Review, 44 (3), 518–537.
- Janssens, M., & Zanoni, P. (2021): “Making diversity research matter for social change: New conversations beyond the firm.” Organization Theory, 2 (2), https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/epub/10.1177/26317877211004603.
- Plotnikof, M., Muhr, S.L., Holck, L., & Just, S.N. (2022): “Repoliticizing diversity work? Exploring the performative potentials of norm‐critical activism.” Gender, Work & Organization, 29 (2), 466–485.
- Ray, V. (2019): “A Theory of Racialized Organizations.” American Sociological Review, 84 (1), 26–53.
- van Amsterdam, N., van Eck, D., & Meldgaard Kjær, K. (2023): “On (Not) Fitting In: Fat embodiment, affect and organizational materials as differentiating agents.” Organization Studies, 44 (4), 593–612.
- Van Laer, K., Jammaers, E., & Hoeven, W. (2022): “Disabling organizational spaces: Exploring the processes through which spatial environments disable employees with impairments.” Organization, 29 (6), 1018–1035.