Decoupling equality, diversity, and inclusion from liberal projects: Hailing indigenous contributions to institutional change

Abstract

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to bring wider-reaching feminism to confluence with relational indigenous values for transformative responses to systemic exclusion. Design/methodology/approach - The authors critique the prevailing (corporate) institutional logic in higher education through their stories and experiences, weaving in diverse feminist perspectives. Liberal feminist perspectives, the most visible gender critique, may merely increase numerical equality, diversifying the biographical characteristics of privilege. Exclusion for many is systemically retained. The authors argue that relational logics underpinning indigenous worldviews hold generative potential for institutional change toward deeper inclusiveness and justice. Findings - Liberal feminists' two-fold transformative aspirations for gender equality and deeper respect for currently marginalized "feminine" values leave room for deeper and wider reflection on how indigenous perspectives might contribute to institutional change. Practical implications - This exploration may be applied to university recruiting, selection, evaluation, and promotion policies; articulating and assessing career competencies and trajectories; curriculum evaluation; organizational and management research; and pedagogical development and research. Social implications - An indigenous critique of liberal feminism and indigenous perspectives on justice, relationality, and inclusivity may enhance social, university, corporate, community, and family life. Originality/value - Interweaving feminist and indigenous insights into a critique of the prevailing corporate institutional logic informing organizational practice - in higher education and all sectors of society, it highlights the generative potential of indigenous contributions and encourages inclusion of diverse indigenous perspectives in organization theory and practice.