When Confronting Bias, Beware the Counterclaims

When members of dominant social groups are accused of discriminating against those with less power and fewer resources, they sometimes seek to deflect criticism by portraying themselves as the victims. Some rely on digressive victimhood, which involves countering accusations of discrimination by reframing the issue as a matter of free speech or religious liberty. The authors discuss how managers can recognize such tactics so they can focus on addressing bias and supporting affected employees.