Project title
Support for (or opposition to) antidiscrimination and diversity measures in the Netherlands and Europe
Research question
To what extent is there support for or opposition to various types of antidiscrimination or diversity policies (that that can be introduced by organizations) in the Netherlands and other European countries? To what extent and how do levels of support for such policies differ between citizens within and across different European countries?
Project description
Ethnic hiring discrimination is a persistent problem in the Netherlands, Europe and worldwide, despite existing legal frameworks promoting equality and non-discrimination. This has incited debate about what (else) can be done, particularly by organizations, to more effectively reduce hiring discrimination. A vital question in this debate is how support for antidiscrimination or diversity measures can be increased. Yet, we lack insight in such support. Research on opinions regarding antidiscrimination or diversity policies is very scarce, especially when it comes to policies more common in Europe. This project addresses these knowledge gaps by examining support for or opposition to various measures that can be taken by organizations to decrease discrimination or increase diversity. It investigates to what extent there is support for or opposition to these measures in the Netherlands and other European countries, and examines who supports which measures to a greater or lesser extent. In addition to its scientific contributions, this project can have a valuable societal impact by informing the current lively debate about ethnic hiring discrimination and how to reduce it. It can provide insights on where, for whom, under which conditions and for which policies support may be increased.
Selected publications
Blommaert, L. & Van den Brink, M. (2020). Gender Equality in Appointments of Board Members: The Role of Multiple Actors and their Dynamics. European Management Review, 17 (3), 633-647, org/10.1111/emre.12381.
Van den Berg, C.J.W., Blommaert, L., Bijleveld, C.C.J.H. & Ruiter, S. (2020). Employment opportunities for ex-offenders: A field experiment on how type of crime and applicants’ ethnic background affect employment opportunities for low-educated men in the Netherlands. Research in Social Stratification and Mobility, 65, doi.org/10.1016/j.rssm.2020.100476
Blommaert, L. & Spierings, N. (2019). Examining ethno-religious labor market inequalities among women in the Netherlands. Research in Social Stratification and Mobility, 61, 38-51, org/10.1016/j.rssm.2019.01.005
Blommaert, L., Van Tubergen, F. & Coenders, (2014). Discrimination of Arabic-Named Applicants in the Netherlands: An Internet-Based Field Experiment Examining Different Phases in Online Recruitment Procedures. Social Forces, 92(3), 957-982, doi.org/10.1093/sf/sot124
Blommaert, L., & Wolbers, M. (2021). Gevolgde leerweg in het middelbaar beroepsonderwjis en selectiegedrag van werkgevers. Over.Werk. Tijdschrift van het Steunpunt Werk, 31(2), 131-137.