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Repoliticizing diversity work? Exploring the performative potentials of norm‐critical activism

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  • Mie Plotnikof
  • Sara Louise Muhr
  • Lotte Holck
  • Sine Nørholm Just

Abstract

Diversity management efforts often turn diversity issues into a business case, thereby depoliticizing these issues and shying away from more political concerns of inequality and discriminating norms of difference. In this study, we explore the performative potential of activist practices to promote the repoliticization of organizational diversity work. To do so, we draw on interviews with three explicitly norm‐critical activists, discussing how insigths from their practices can inspire diversity work in formal organizational contexts. The three activists are (1) a twerk dancer, psychologist, radio host, and co‐founder of a popular fourth‐wave feminist group; (2) a project manager and co‐founder of a non‐governmental organization for minority ethnic lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender + people; and (3) an anarchist activist, gender educator, and founder of a gender network for educators. Showing how their norm‐critical practices work through discursive tensions of personal↔public issues, safe↔unsafe spaces, and creative↔conventional methods, we discuss how these practices may perform in organizational settings, enabling the repoliticization of diversity work in and as the constant negotiation and recognition of norms of difference.

Suggested Citation

  • Mie Plotnikof & Sara Louise Muhr & Lotte Holck & Sine Nørholm Just, 2022. "Repoliticizing diversity work? Exploring the performative potentials of norm‐critical activism," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(2), pages 466-485, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:gender:v:29:y:2022:i:2:p:466-485
    DOI: 10.1111/gwao.12771
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ghorashi, Halleh & Sabelis, Ida, 2013. "Juggling difference and sameness: Rethinking strategies for diversity in organizations," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 29(1), pages 78-86.
    2. Alison Pullen & Sheena Vachhani & Suzanne Gagnon & Nelarine Cornelius, 2017. "Editorial: Critical Diversity, Philosophy and Praxis," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 24(5), pages 451-456, September.
    3. Janssens, Maddy & Zanoni, Patrizia, 2014. "Alternative diversity management: Organizational practices fostering ethnic equality at work," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 30(3), pages 317-331.
    4. Sine Nørholm Just & Sara Louise Muhr, 2020. "Holding on to both ends of a pole: Empowering feminine sexuality and reclaiming feminist emancipation," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(1), pages 6-23, January.
    5. Patrizia Zanoni & Maddy Janssens, 2007. "Minority Employees Engaging with (Diversity) Management: An Analysis of Control, Agency, and Micro‐Emancipation," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 44(8), pages 1371-1397, December.
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