Download or read book Paradoxes of Diversity and Inclusion: From the Lab to the Social Field written by Maria Popa-Roch and published by Frontiers Media SA. This book was released on 2024-12-31 with total page 127 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Contemporary societies strive for multiculturalism and tolerance. To create conditions to reach this ideal there should be a continuum between what the social actors are prepared for in school, practices they encounter at the workplace, and the way they contribute to the wider society. This continuum should be materialized in consistent conceptualizations and practices of diversity and inclusion across educational, organizational and societal contexts. So far, research suggests that policies implemented in those settings have mixed results. This is partly because policies in different fields use distinct conceptual definitions of diversity and inclusion. Thus, important gaps exist between research and policy implementation and there is little dialogue between research in educational and organizational environments. In education, inclusive practices focus on students with special needs, broader definitions of diversity being neglected. In organizations, the emphasis is largely on diversity, inclusion being a more recent research topic and practice. Research conducted at societal level addresses the comprehensive ideologies underlying diversity and inclusion. To move forward, a dialogue that builds bridges between the various types (fundamental vs. applied) and fields of research (educational, organizational and societal) is crucial. Only then can this shared understanding be reached as well as the continuum of goals, concepts, and practices.