ADDRESSING BARRIERS TO EQUITY AND INCLUSION

Abstract: Despite significant efforts to promote diversity and inclusion, organizations continue to grapple with implicit biases, structural barriers, and the complex interplay of social identities. This symposium brings together five empirical studies that address these phenomena using field, archival, and laboratory methods. The first presentation examines the perceived moral implications of demographically diverse teams. The second focuses on intersecting identities, revealing that White women report stronger perceptions of “linked fate” with women of color, while women of color do not reciprocate this belief, thereby influencing their sense of inclusion in diversity initiatives. The third explores how Democrats and Republicans differ in their support for abortion and child welfare programs, shaped by racialized beliefs about potential beneficiaries. The fourth investigates whether sponsorship can reduce discrimination against first-time Black homebuyers. Lastly, the fifth presentation tests whether lowering search costs for underrepresented minority (URM) scholars can increase their representation in academic seminars.

Keywords: diversity, bias, interventions