Managing Workplace Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, 2nd Edition

Chapter 3Privilege, Social Construction, Attribution, and Fairness

DOI: 10.4324/9780367808884-5

WE have seen in Part I why DEI covers important topics for contemporary organizations, especially in light of demographic changes affecting the labor force. Part II considers social interaction in work settings, highlighting organizational structures and social processes. In this chapter, we begin with assumptions that people often make and their habits of thinking about themselves and others who may be different in important ways. These assumptions and habits are basic to our sense of who we are in relation to others. This sense of identity is discussed more fully in Chapter 5.

PRIVILEGE—AN INVISIBLE OBSTACLE

Often conflict in organizations can ...