How Much Inequity Do You See? Structural Power, Perceptions of Gender and Racial Inequity, and Support for Diversity Initiatives

Abstract

The success of diversity initiatives depends on the support of those in positions of structural power, that is, managers. However, managers often resist such initiatives. Existing academic and practitioner conversations point to managers’ demographics or ideology as the source of resistance to diversity initiatives. We propose that such resistance may originate from the managerial position itself. We argue that positions of structural power induce organizational identification, which motivates a view that one’s workplace is equitable, blinding one to inequities in one’s organization. Such lower perceptions of inequity by those in positions of structural power explain their lower support for diversity initiatives. Seven archival surveys of government employees (Studies 1a-1g) and three surveys of working adults (Studies 2a-3) suggest those higher in structural power perceive less inequity in their workplace due to higher organizational identification, resulting in lower support for diversity initiatives. An experiment, asking managers to deliberate on inequities within their own organization, thus challenging their default positive view, helps managers to overcome their identification barrier (Study 4). This research helps shift the foci of resistance towards diversity initiatives from demographics or ideology to one’s managerial position and provides practical implications for organizations seeking to support their diversity initiatives.