Oscillating Politics and Shifting Agencies: equalities and diversity work and actor network theory

Swan, E; Hunter, S

Oscillating Politics and Shifting Agencies: equalities and diversity work and actor network theory

Swan, E

Hunter, S

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Publisher:: Emerald
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Equal Opportunities International, 2007, 26 (5), pp. 402 - 419
Issue Date:: 2007-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Swan, E https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4422-807X	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Hunter, S	en_US
dc.date.issued	2007-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Equal Opportunities International, 2007, 26 (5), pp. 402 - 419	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	0261-0159	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/15842
dc.description.abstract	The paper has two purposes: to introduce a new perspective on power and resistance in equalities work; and to trouble either or theorisations of success and failure in this work. Instead it offers a new means of exploring micro-practice. Design/methodology/approach - The paper applies/develops an "actor network theory" (ANT) analysis to a single case study of Iopia, a Black woman equalities practitioner working in a prison education context. It uses this to explore the ways in which Iopia interacts with a variety of human and non-human objects to challenge racism in this context. Findings - Iopia, from an initial position of marginality (as a Black woman experiencing racism) is able to establish herself (by virtue of this same identity as a Black woman combating racism) as central to a "new" network for equality and diversity. This new network both challenges and sustains narrow exclusionary definitions of diversity. Thus, Iopia's case provides an example of the contradictions, and paradox, experienced by those working for equality and diversity. Research limitations/implications - In the future, this type of feminist ANT analysis could be more fully developed and integrated with critical race and other critical cultural theories as these relate to equalities work. Practical implications - The approach, and, in particular, the notion of translation, can be used by practitioners in thinking through the ways in which they can use material objects to draw in multiple "others" into their own networks. Originality/value - The article is one of the first to explore equalities workers via the lens of ANT. It is unique in its analysis of the material objects constituting both diversity workers and diversity work and thus its analysis of diversity workers and their work as part of a complex set of social and "material" relations.	en_US
dc.publisher	Emerald	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Equal Opportunities International	en_US
dc.title	Oscillating Politics and Shifting Agencies: equalities and diversity work and actor network theory	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	5	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	26	en_US
utslib.for	1503 Business and Management	en_US
utslib.for	1608 Sociology	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/e-Press
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CMOS - Centre for Management and Organisation Studies
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CPCE - Centre for Creative Practices and the Cultural Economy
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.consider-herdc	false	en_US
pubs.issue	5	en_US
pubs.volume	26	en_US

Abstract:

The paper has two purposes: to introduce a new perspective on power and resistance in equalities work; and to trouble either or theorisations of success and failure in this work. Instead it offers a new means of exploring micro-practice. Design/methodology/approach - The paper applies/develops an "actor network theory" (ANT) analysis to a single case study of Iopia, a Black woman equalities practitioner working in a prison education context. It uses this to explore the ways in which Iopia interacts with a variety of human and non-human objects to challenge racism in this context. Findings - Iopia, from an initial position of marginality (as a Black woman experiencing racism) is able to establish herself (by virtue of this same identity as a Black woman combating racism) as central to a "new" network for equality and diversity. This new network both challenges and sustains narrow exclusionary definitions of diversity. Thus, Iopia's case provides an example of the contradictions, and paradox, experienced by those working for equality and diversity. Research limitations/implications - In the future, this type of feminist ANT analysis could be more fully developed and integrated with critical race and other critical cultural theories as these relate to equalities work. Practical implications - The approach, and, in particular, the notion of translation, can be used by practitioners in thinking through the ways in which they can use material objects to draw in multiple "others" into their own networks. Originality/value - The article is one of the first to explore equalities workers via the lens of ANT. It is unique in its analysis of the material objects constituting both diversity workers and diversity work and thus its analysis of diversity workers and their work as part of a complex set of social and "material" relations.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/15842