We Are Not the Same: Intersectionality and Inequity in Organizations

In this symposium, we demonstrate the importance of an intersectional lens in understanding inequity in organizations. How people experience and navigate organizations is unlikely to be singularly determined by one aspect of their identity. Rather, people are multifaceted, belonging to a number of identity groups, and more nuanced theory in diversity, equity, and inclusion aids in better understanding organizational behavior in light of this reality. Across four presentations highlighting the intersections of ethnicity, gender, and status, we demonstrate how inequity persists in organizations and the need for more intersectional theories in management scholarship. The Importance of Intersectionality for Understanding the Use and Reception of Dominant Language Presenter: Cydney Dupree; Yale School of Management Growing Apart: Hair-based Stigma and Racial Segregation in America’s Institutions Presenter: Tosen Nwadei; Emory U., Goizueta Business School White liberals downshift warmth to high (vs. low) status Black partners Presenter: Arielle Lewis; Emory U. Intersectional Stereotypes as a Function of Intergroup Contrast: Implications for Hiring Decisions Presenter: Christopher Petsko; Kenan-Flagler Business School, U. of North Carolina at Chapel Hill