The labour market plays a crucial role in perpetuating inequality. In recent years, there has been growing attention toward gender inequality and the role of gender stereotypes in the workplace. But while most studies focus on a single identity, such as gender, researchers Brütt and Gërxhani aim to study how multiple, overlapping social identities, such as gender, race, and socio-economic status, interact.
For instance, stereotypes about a man's competence may not stem from his gender alone, but also from how his race and class position intersect with that gender identity. These layered stereotypes can create unique forms of bias that are often overlooked in traditional research.
“By unpacking the complex ways in which intersectional stereotypes are formed and how they influence labour market outcomes, the project can help highlight the specific challenges faced by individuals from different intersecting social groups,” says assistant professor Brütt. “This knowledge can encourage companies and policymakers to rethink and redesign existing procedures and policies to account for the complex effects of intersectional stereotypes. For instance, many Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives in organizations focus solely on reducing gender-based or race-based discrimination (Primecz & Mahadevan, 2024). However, these policies often unintentionally benefit only certain subgroups — those who belong to more privileged social identities (e.g., white women) — while overlooking women from marginalized backgrounds.”
Ultimately, by contributing to a better understanding of how intersectional stereotypes are applied, the project can lead to more inclusive and targeted interventions, avoiding the pitfall of one-size-fits-all DEI policies.
The grant will enable the researchers to recruit a PhD student, carry out a series of experimental studies, and share their findings with both academic and policy-focused audiences through conference participation and the organization of workshops.
About the NWO Open Competition – Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) grant
With this grant, NWO Social Sciences and Humanities wants to offer researchers the opportunity to carry out research into a subject of their own choosing without any thematic constraints. The funding instrument aims to serve a broader group of researchers in different stages of their academic careers.