‘I have a problem with the notion of diversity’. Analyzing social movement leaders’ opinions on multiple equality claims

Susanne Bygnes (UiB)

This presentation discusses the issue of social justice by using social movement organization leaders’ responses to multiple identity claims as analytical prism. The empirical material drawn on is mainly qualitative interviews with leaders from a women’s organization, but a few examples from an anti-racist organization will be added for contrast/nuance.  Among the key issues brought out in the material are tensions between universalism and difference and how to balance equality and diversity with regard to issues such as gender, class, race, ethnicity and religion. Analyses of organizational leaders’ discussion of claims based on ethnic and religious diversity will be drawn on to look into how potentially competing claims are handled by social movement actors and how this can be related to the issue of social justice.

Susanne Bygnes is a sociologist and a PhD fellow within the EUROSPHERE research project. Her PhD deals with questions related to how visions of the national and the transnational affects perspectives of gender and diversity in Norway.