Abstract
Diversifying the profiles of employees is crucial to addressing challenges related to labor shortages, demographic aging, and immigration. While diversity can enhance productivity and creativity, it also poses risks of discrimination and conflicts, particularly for individuals embodying multiple forms of diversity. Intersectionality emerges as a useful concept to grasp the complexity of situations where diversities overlap and intersect. This is especially relevant for promoting the inclusion of aging workers, a growing demographic facing unique challenges in the workplace. However, intersectionality remains underexplored in the context of work. This paper discusses the results of a recent study aimed at conceptualizing intersectionality in the workplace. A scoping review was conducted to identify 29 documents addressing intersectionality at work. The data from these documents were extracted to highlight the operational characteristics of the concept, namely its attributes, antecedents, and consequences. The analysis reveals five attributes that define intersectionality in the workplace: the interrelation of diversities, power dynamics, interactions between privilege and disadvantage, subjective experience, and the relationship between self and others. The study also identified two organizational antecedents necessary for recognizing intersectionality in practice, along with three consequences related to social action and explaining the impacts of diversity. Implications. By incorporating intersectionality into workplace strategies, organizations can better address the needs of marginalized workers, such as aging employees, by acknowledging their unique and multidimensional experiences. The theoretical foundations established in this study can also guide future applied work to promote equity, diversity, and inclusion in various professional settings.
Presenters
Alexandra LecoursRegular Professor, Occupational Therapy, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Social and Cultural Perspectives on Aging
KEYWORDS
Intersectionality, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Scoping review, Work
