Whiteness in Scotland: shame, belonging and diversity management in a Glasgow workplace

Abstract

This paper uses analysis of interview transcripts and notes from participant observation to explore white reactions to the introduction of diversity management in a large public sector workplace in Glasgow. The paper analyses white talk about racial equality in a social context where the shaming, exclusion and demonization of disadvantaged groups including migrants, asylum seekers and the poor have ensured that issues of entitlement and race are highly charged. It is suggested that in such contexts diversity management is being wielded as a new kind of civility by middle-class people invested in the objectification of poor whites. This represents a form of class conflict over belonging within the body of whiteness that risks reinforcing rather than redressing racial resentments.

Keywords:

• whiteness
• class
• racial inequality
• diversity
• Scotland
• belonging

Acknowledgements

I thank my interviewees, fellow research team members Pamela Abbott, Rachel Russell and Bill Hughes at Glasgow Caledonian University, Dot Kirkham who transcribed the interviews and two anonymous referees who provided extremely helpful criticisms of the draft paper.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Lani Russell

LANI RUSSELL is a Lecturer in Sociology in the Department of Social Sciences, Media and Journalism at Glasgow Caledonian University.