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Professor Sonia Kang Talk
March 21, 2017 @ 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm
Going beyond diversity statements: Resume whitening and responding to labour market discrimination
Tuesday, March 21, 2017
5:00-6:30 pm
Room 320, Student Lounge
Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work
246 Bloor Street West
Despite the proliferation of interest in increasing diversity, discrimination continues to be a major problem in the labor market. This workshop will explore ways in which employers and job seekers are reacting to this discrimination, and offer suggestions for moving diversity statements beyond words into actions.
Dr. Kang will share the results of a novel program of research which investigated the interplay between two practices. First, a practice adopted by many organizations: explicitly advertising their dedication to diversity, or identifying themselves as “pro-diversity”, “equal opportunity”, or “diversity-friendly” employers. Second, a practice adopted by some minority job seekers: “resume whitening” — concealing or downplaying racial cues on a job application to increase the chance of getting a callback for an interview.
This workshop will explore these two themes and provide attendees with an opportunity to formulate, adapt, and challenge their perspectives on pro-diversity statements and resume whitening. We will conclude with a discussion of new directions and possible solutions.
Dr. Sonia Kang is an assistant professor of organizational behavior and human resource management at the Institute for Management and Innovation at the University of Toronto Mississauga. Sonia is cross-appointed to the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto.