Equality and Diversity Policies between Mutual Identification and Backlashes? Long-term Processes of Civilizing Power Relations.
Basic data for this talk
Type of talk: scientific Talk
Name der Vortragenden: Ernst, Stefanie
Date of talk: 19/03/2022
Talk language: English
Information about the event
Name of the event: Long-Term Processes in Human History: A Tribute to Johan Goudsblom
Event period: 17/03/2022 - 19/03/2022
Event location: Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), Amsterdam
Event website: https://goudsblom-conference.com/
Organised by: Norbert Elias Foundation
Abstract
As part of undirected but nevertheless intended social change, the public pressure of social liberation movements has manifested in institutional practices to govern equality policies in the last 40 years. Processes of informalisation as well as formalisation (equality policy) have empowered social climbers ascending top-positions (women, homosexuals, PoC etc.). But what does it mean that in the last 15 years, we have faced a turn from (gender) equality towards (intersectional) diversity politics with new players and ambivalences? Mostly, hidden power struggles are romanticised or culturalised as ‘natural' difference'. Shame is an essential part of emotional integration and power conflicts between social groups. In this context, Goudsblom stated (Human Figurations 2016) that the "manifestations, occasions, and functions [of shame] have changed over time" and that the "manifestations of shame are contradictory". With this idea in mind, nowadays we can view battles about sexisms, discrimination and diversity at first sight as typical fights for recognition between formerly outsiders and established groups. But behind these ascriptive elements and debates on deconstruction and othering, a socio-and psychogenetic order of inequality constantly enacting feelings of shame, social fear of gaining or loosing prestige is worth to be studied. Learning from social integration studies we have to face an ambivalent transformation of inequality with increased potential not only for conflict but also for shame, because separated groups come closer together with high aspiration. Informalisation as well as formalisation processes are part of this transformation on the macro-, meso- and microlevel.Speakers from the University of Münster
| Ernst, Stefanie Maria |
Projects the talk is about
Duration: 01/06/2017 - 01/06/2020 Funded by: EC - Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme Type of project: EU-project hosted outside University of Münster |