You are here

  1. Home
  2. Including whom? Practices and consequences of inclusion and diversity

Including whom? Practices and consequences of inclusion and diversity

Dates
Thursday, October 24, 2024 - 17:00 to 18:00
Location
Berrill Lecture Theatre, Walton Hall, The Open University, MK6 7AA

In her inaugural lecture, Cinzia Priola, Professor of Work and Organisation Studies in the OU’s Faculty of Business & Law, 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.

Watch what Professor Priola has to say about her lecture in the trailer video below

Do we really understand what we mean by inclusion at work?

Why is sometimes difficult for people such as women, LGBTQ+, disabled, or people of colour, to feel fully included in the workplace?

Inclusion is a fragile concept, often contested and ever changing, however we talk more about diversity and less about inclusion, as if a diverse work environment corresponds directly to an inclusive one.

In my inaugural lecture, I will present my research on inclusion, diversity and inequalities in the workplace and provide opportunities to explore and challenge definitions and practices of inclusion.

I hope you will join me.

Attendance

Registration

Watch the webinar online

Please take the opportunity to have your questions answered by our speakers LIVE during the event:

Email us your questions Use #OUtalks on Twitter

Event programme

Timings Item
16:30 Registration opens
17:00 Inaugural lecture: Including whom? Practices and consequences of inclusion and diversity
17:40 Q&A
18:00 Networking over refreshments