Othering diversity – a Levinasian analysis of diversity management

Abstract

Several studies have suggested both creative advantages and disadvantages of diversity. Much of this discrepancy can be explained by a deeper conceptual ambiguity. Levinasian ethics emphasises the Other as infinitely different. This article uses Levinasian ethics to investigate the distinction between categorisable differences and the multiplicity of otherness. In this process of 'othering' diversity, the ambiguity in the field is unravelled, as creativity in organisations depends not on 'managing' differences among people but on 'respecting' otherness within them. The first destroys creativity by reducing diversity to sameness. The latter is the creative aspect of diversity. Diversity management must be 'othered' and taken beyond the obvious categorisation of differences. That is, beyond management, and back to the Other, who resists being managed. This movement toward otherness is exemplified by a story from the making of South African justice policy: a story of an ethical encounter between two very different groups.Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Muhr, S.L. (2008) 'Othering diversity -a Levinasian analysis of diversity management', Int.

How Can I Become a Responsible Subject? Towards a Practice-Based Ethics of Responsiveness

“…Thus, the other's call demonstrates a risk of critique and a questioning of one's own beliefs and common sense (Levinas, 1969, p. 43). At the same time, the call of the other allows for selftransformation and development as it changes the way the self sees both the other and the self (Muhr, 2008a, see also Werhane, 1995).…”

Identity, diversity and diversity management

“…The very idea that diversity management can work as an unbiased mechanism seeking social justice is naïve and even at times unethical (Muhr, 2008). Rather, in order to resist the subjugating power of diversity, it becomes the main objective to "unmask 'hidden' contexts and 'invisible' power relations" (Ahonen et al, 2014, p. 270) and questioning established structures of domination and subordination (Meriläinen et al, 2009).…”

“…Rather, in order to resist the subjugating power of diversity, it becomes the main objective to "unmask 'hidden' contexts and 'invisible' power relations" (Ahonen et al, 2014, p. 270) and questioning established structures of domination and subordination (Meriläinen et al, 2009). Post-structural approaches to diversity therefore often argue for an un-categorical approach (Muhr, 2008), or at least one in which the categories are rethought as events, actions, and encounters between bodies, i.e. relational existence as becoming rather than as being (Puar, 2012).…”

On Gendered Technologies and Cyborg Writing

“…This conceptualization of écriture féminine is therefore not a writing tied to women — and the female (or feminine) body — only (Fotaki et al ., ; Phillips et al ., ). In this view, écriture féminine is about transgressing, destabilizing and breaking with gender categories rather than building new ones (see also Linstead and Pullen, ; Muhr, ; Muhr and Sullivan, ).…”