Communicating Identity in the Workplace and Affinity Group Spaces

Megan M. Lambertz-Berndt

Studies in Media and Communication, 2016, vol. 4, issue 2, 110-124

Abstract: The following paper examined affinity group creation and purpose through an identity management lens by addressing the utility of an affinity group for those currently involved in homogeneous racial and nonracial groups as well as larger organizational diversity sessions. A thematic analysis revealed affinity group perceptions including several subthemes (logistics, helpful, harmful, more heterogeneity, and exclusion of identity). Organizational diversity sessions at large revealed similar subthemes (legitimizing identity, lack of safe spaces, intersectionality, and surface level discussions). Understanding how employees view organizational diversity efforts better equip organizations to enact specific diversity strategies that move beyond the mere rhetoric of diversity.

Keywords: affinity groups; identity; diversity; intersectionality; thematic analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://redfame.com/journal/index.php/smc/article/view/1952/2061 (application/pdf)
http://redfame.com/journal/index.php/smc/article/view/1952 (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:rfa:smcjnl:v:4:y:2016:i:2:p:110-124

Access Statistics for this article

More articles in Studies in Media and Communication from Redfame publishing Contact information at EDIRC.
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Redfame publishing ().