Including whom? Practices and consequences of inclusion and diversity

In her inaugural lecture, Cinzia Priola, Professor of Work and Organisation Studies in the OU’s Business School, will explore her research on inclusion, diversity and inequalities in the workplace and social lives.

Starting from her work on gender and sexuality, the talk will offer reflection points challenging definitions of inclusion to demonstrate that inclusion itself is a fragile concept, contested and ever changing.

Abstract

Societies and workplaces across the global north are increasingly diverse. Simplistically one would think that greater diversity corresponds to more inclusive work environments. When workers can see more people like them at work, one could assume that they would also feel more included and recognised for what the manifestations of their diversity can bring, whether this is their gender, sexual orientation, disability or ethnicity, among other identity categories. Unfortunately, research shows that this is not the case, and that workplace inclusion is far from being achieved for women, LGBTQ+ individuals, disabled people or ethnically diverse persons.

Professor Priola’s inaugural lecture will explore definitions, practices and lived experiences of inclusion (and exclusion) across a range of organisations in different countries. Starting from her work on gender and sexuality, the talk will offer research evidence that challenges definitions of inclusion and shows that inclusion itself is a fragile, contested and ever-changing concept.

In exploring inclusion in the workplace, she will illustrate the interconnections between work organisations and societies. She will discuss how structural socio-economic constraints make extremely difficult, and sometimes impossible, for minoritised groups to achieve full recognition and empowerment in the workplace. The talk will conclude with reflections on the possibilities for work organisations to affect equality, justice and solidarity at work and beyond.

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Event programme