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Intersectionality: Affirmative Action with Multidimensional Identities

Author

Listed:
  • Jean-Paul Carvalho

    (Department of Economics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3UQ, United Kingdom)

  • Bary S. R. Pradelski

    (Department of Economics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3UQ, United Kingdom; and French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), Maison Française d’Oxford, Oxford OX2 6SE, United Kingdom)

  • Cole Williams

    (Department of Economics, Durham University Business School, Durham DH1 3LB, United Kingdom)

Abstract

Studying the design of affirmative action policies when identities are multidimensional, we provide a formal demonstration of the importance of intersectionality . Prevailing affirmative action policies are based only on one identity dimension (e.g., race, gender, socioeconomic class). We find that any such nonintersectional policy can almost never achieve a representative outcome. In fact, nonintersectional policies often increase the underrepresentation of underrepresented groups in a manner undetected by standard measures. Examples based on race and gender reveal significant hidden inequality arising from nonintersectional policies. We show how to construct intersectional policies that achieve proportional representation.

Suggested Citation

  • Jean-Paul Carvalho & Bary S. R. Pradelski & Cole Williams, 2025. "Intersectionality: Affirmative Action with Multidimensional Identities," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 71(5), pages 4495-4509, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:ormnsc:v:71:y:2025:i:5:p:4495-4509
    DOI: 10.1287/mnsc.2023.03839
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