Tiffany Brannon, PhD
Assistant Professor of Psychology, UCLA

From Backlash to Benefits: How Institutions Can Leverage Diversity Efforts to Foster ‘Inclusion for All’
Theory-based diversity efforts to promote inclusion among marginalized group members can prompt backlash. For instance, diversity efforts (e.g., Latina/o/x or African American academic courses) can signal to individuals from marginalized groups that their racial/ethnic in-group is valued, recognized, and represented within a school or workplace context. Such efforts can foster a sense of belonging to mainstream institutions and in turn a myriad of social and health benefits. However, the same diversity efforts can prompt backlash from majority group members (e.g., explicit opposition to diversity courses); such reactance can adversely impact a sense of inclusion. Ironically, such reactance can negatively impact a sense of belonging within the institution across social group lines—that is, among marginalized group members as well as among majority group members. The talk will present a theory-based framework for minimizing or eliminating backlash to diversity efforts and in turn promoting more inclusive institutions across social group lines. The discussion will
address implications for theory and policy on inclusion.

This lecture is made possible in part by a generous Endowment by the family of Allen. L. Edwards.