TY - JOUR
T1 - Taking a “multiple forms” approach to diversity
T2 - An introduction, policy implications, and legal recommendations
AU - Rios, Kimberly
AU - Cohen, Adam B.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 The Authors. Social Issues and Policy Review published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues.
PY - 2023/1
Y1 - 2023/1
N2 - In both academic and policy contexts, two of the most widely researched and discussed diversity ideologies are multiculturalism (i.e., acknowledgment and celebration of group differences) and colorblindness (which can involve focusing on group similarities and characteristics of individuals instead of differences). However, both diversity ideologies have potential drawbacks, and their implications for intergroup contexts beyond race and ethnicity are not well understood. Given that the United States is becoming increasingly diverse in terms of religion, gender identity, and sexual orientation as well as race and ethnicity, we propose a “multiple forms” approach to diversity ideologies, particularly multiculturalism. We suggest that explicitly emphasizing the importance of many types of diversity may be beneficial for dominant and non-dominant group members and for institutions and organizations more broadly. In this article, we present an overview of the “multiple forms” approach and what it would entail, review empirical evidence supporting its potential effectiveness, discuss the psychological and legal advantages and challenges involved in implementing such an approach, and offer concrete policy recommendations for doing so.
AB - In both academic and policy contexts, two of the most widely researched and discussed diversity ideologies are multiculturalism (i.e., acknowledgment and celebration of group differences) and colorblindness (which can involve focusing on group similarities and characteristics of individuals instead of differences). However, both diversity ideologies have potential drawbacks, and their implications for intergroup contexts beyond race and ethnicity are not well understood. Given that the United States is becoming increasingly diverse in terms of religion, gender identity, and sexual orientation as well as race and ethnicity, we propose a “multiple forms” approach to diversity ideologies, particularly multiculturalism. We suggest that explicitly emphasizing the importance of many types of diversity may be beneficial for dominant and non-dominant group members and for institutions and organizations more broadly. In this article, we present an overview of the “multiple forms” approach and what it would entail, review empirical evidence supporting its potential effectiveness, discuss the psychological and legal advantages and challenges involved in implementing such an approach, and offer concrete policy recommendations for doing so.
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U2 - 10.1111/sipr.12089
DO - 10.1111/sipr.12089
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85144217907
SN - 1751-2395
VL - 17
SP - 104
EP - 130
JO - Social Issues and Policy Review
JF - Social Issues and Policy Review
IS - 1
ER -