Going Beyond Backlash: Mitigating Resistance to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Initiatives

Some may think that it is only members of underrepresented and marginalized groups who experience identity threat in an organization. However, members of traditionally well-represented groups can feel threatened by diversity, equity, and justice (DEI) initiatives, and this can result to backlash which could derail those efforts. Through a collaboration with Feminuity, a consulting firm dedicated to helping organizations with diversity, inclusion and equity, this project will examine how the identity threats of dominant-identity group members can be transformed from roadblocks to challenges that can also trigger learning and growth as they force us to go beyond who we think we are. As Canadian organizations increasingly implement DEI initiatives, this project will assist policy makers and organizations such as Feminuity who are interested in improving support for these initiatives to better understand how to transform resistance into support.

Faculty Supervisor:

Brent Lyons

Student:

Partner:

Feminuity

Discipline:

Business

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

York University

Program: