Discrimination of Second-Generation Professionals in Leadership Positions

Ismintha Waldring, Maurice Crul and Halleh Ghorashi
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Ismintha Waldring: Sociology Department, Erasmus University, The Netherlands
Maurice Crul: Sociology Department, Erasmus University, The Netherlands
Halleh Ghorashi: Sociology Department, VU University, The Netherlands

Social Inclusion, 2015, vol. 3, issue 4, 38-49

Abstract: This article, based on interviews from the Dutch Pathways to Success Project, investigates how Turkish-Dutch and Moroccan-Dutch second-generation professionals in leadership positions experience and deal with subtle discrimination at work. We argue that subtle discrimination in organizations remains a reality for second-generation professionals in leadership positions. Because organizations are penetrated by power processes in society at large, these professionals are perceived not only on the basis of their position within the organization, but also on the basis of their marginalized ethnic group background. We show this through the existence of subtle discriminatory practices at three organizational levels—that of supervisors, same-level colleagues and subordinates—which may take place at one or more of these levels. When dealing with subtle discrimination, Turkish-Dutch and Moroccan-Dutch second-generation professionals in leadership positions show an awareness of organizational power and hierarchies. This awareness amounts to various forms of “micro-emancipation” by the second generation—adapted to the organizational level (supervisors, same-level colleagues and subordinates) they are dealing with—that question and challenge subtle discrimination in organizations.

Keywords: discrimination; ethnic; leadership; organization; power; second generation; work (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:cog:socinc:v3:y:2015:i:4:p:38-49

DOI: 10.17645/si.v3i4.227

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