THE SCIENCE BEHIND DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

This book dives into the latest research into human behaviour. Join Prof. Binna Kandola as he unravels the mysteries behind bias. Discover why biases exist, how they infiltrate organisations, and uncover the techniques we can adopt to eliminate them.

Does the only way to achieve gender equality at work lie in accepting the natural and unchangeable differences between men and women? Or is acceptance of difference a blind alley – and a means of perpetuating the very inequality at stake? Psychologists Binna and Jo Kandola show how today’s gender equality stems not from biology or evolution but from social constructs, viewpoints, and bias.

Using historical, sociological, and psychological perspectives, they demonstrate how gendered outcomes at work are not natural but artificial. This book explains how we – men and women together – built a world divided between men and women. It shows where our ideas of gender identity came from, how they operate in the world of work, and what we can do to change them… if we really want to.

A sense of belonging and inclusion in the workplace is vital for all employees’ wellbeing, yet the default state that minorities find themselves in is exclusion. What’s more, minorities are more aware of negative social cues, which can further distance them from their fellow employees. As a result, not only do minorities’ emotional states decrease, but their performance does as well.

This ground-breaking book examines in detail the negative effects discrimination has on minority groups. It looks at the degree to which employees are affected, mentally and physically, by issues such as racial trauma and micro-incivilities. It discusses how wellbeing and performance at work are intrinsically linked and offers practical solutions for both employers and employees to combat race and bias in the workplace. Ultimately, when minorities’ wellbeing increases, so does their resilience, performance, career prospects, and their organisation benefits as well.