Thematic Group Meeting 'Attitudes towards DEI initiatives: Current trends and future directions'

Attitudes towards DEI initiatives

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives are growing worldwide, driven by social movements and changing policies. Organizations are taking steps towards greater transparency, fair pay and diverse leadership. At the same time, political and economic tensions are causing some efforts to stall. Research shows that employee attitudes towards DEI policies play a key role in their success, but further theoretical development and practical implementation are still needed.

Purpose of the meeting

Interdisciplinary collaboration leads to innovative ideas by combining different methods and theoretical frameworks. With this meeting, we aim to bring together researchers from various disciplines so that they can exchange perspectives and build sustainable networks. During this thematic meeting, we will discuss current developments and future research directions on attitudes towards DEI policies.

Our main goals are:
1. To provide a platform for presenting recent research findings;
2. To facilitate networking for individual researchers;
3. To stimulate collaborations. We support participants in forming new and existing research teams and in planning future research lines. These plans are collected and documented at the end of the meeting.

Programme

The programme covers two full days. Prof. Jojanneke van der Toorn will give the opening keynote. The project presentation will be given by the organisers, Dr Jill Knapen and Dr Miriam Engels. The programme also consists of oral presentations, a poster session and various networking and brainstorming sessions.

Project presentation

The results of the NWO-funded research project 'It’s All in the Frame: Framing Diversity Policies to Reduce Attitudinal Resistance Toward Gender Quotas and Their Beneficiaries' will be presented by Jill Knapen and Miriam Engels. To combat the systematic underrepresentation of women in top positions, some governments are introducing gender quotas (GQ). Despite their effectiveness, GQ are controversial and generally perceived as negative. Through three experimental studies and a Free Association Task, strategic communication frameworks were designed that organisations can use to reduce attitudinal resistance to GQ. This research addresses the challenge of communicating GQ positively for all employees and contributes to the social sciences by examining how policy information can be framed to influence public perceptions. It also informs practice on the best ways to implement GQ.

Registration

The meeting is open to researchers worldwide, aiming for a diverse, international group of participants from different career levels and academic disciplines. Researchers from underrepresented groups are particularly encouraged to apply.

Submissions for oral presentations and/or posters from researchers at all levels (PhD students, postdocs, senior researchers) within Psychology, Business Administration, Social Sciences and related disciplines, with a focus on attitudes towards DEI initiatives are welcome. Although our project focuses specifically on gender quotas, a broad focus is intended to include all potential beneficiaries.

Registration is also possible without a presentation, but due to the limited number of places, presenters will be given priority. Presentations will be selected based on the quality and relevance of the research. Abstracts from ongoing research projects are also welcome. The maximum length of abstracts is 500 words, including references.

Registration is free, thanks to sponsorship by NWO. Participation in the two days, including lunch and coffee breaks, is fully financed by the organizing institution. The costs for a joint dinner on Thursday evening, as well as travel and accommodation costs are at the participants' own expense.

Important information

• Abstracts can be submitted via the registration form.
• See the complete programme for more information or contact: thematic-meeting@ou.nl.
• Registration deadline: Friday 1 August 2025
• Admission decision: no later than 1 October 2025
• Registration fee: free (excluding travel and accommodation costs)
• Meeting: 22-23 January 2026
• Location: study centre Utrecht

Keynote speaker
	Jojanneke van der Toorn is professor of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Workplace Inclusion at Leiden University, and associate professor of Social and Organizational psychology at Utrecht University. She earned M.A. degrees in Psychology (2003) and Cultural Anthropology (2005, cum laude) from the Free University Amsterdam and a Ph.D. in Social Psychology from New York University (2010). She has held positions at Yale and Leiden. Professor van der Toorn's research examines the social psychological mechanisms that drive resistance to, support for, and participation in progressive social change. She explores individuals' motivations to challenge or maintain the status quo, analyzing structural influences, psychological forces, and their societal consequences. Her work highlights how both advantaged and disadvantaged groups contribute to sustaining social and economic inequalities.Specializing in intergroup relations and social justice, she focuses on diversity and inclusion in the workplace, particularly concerning LGBT+ employees. Her research investigates organizational blind spots in diversity policies, their impact on job seekers and employees, and ways to address these challenges. Additionally, she studies psychological processes that reinforce group-based inequalities. Committed to bridging science and practice, she co-developed the Netherlands Inclusivity Monitor to assess and improve diversity policies. She also consults for organizations and government agencies and leads an executive masterclass on effective diversity and inclusion strategies.
Project researchers
	Dr. Jill Knapen is an assistant professor at the Open Universiteit and theme leader for the social inequality and diversity sector plan . Her research focuses on equal opportunities for underrepresented groups, with special attention to diversity in the workplace, minority experiences, self-image and interpersonal perception. She obtained her PhD in Social and Organizational Psychology at the VU Amsterdam and previously worked at the UvA and at Nivel.
	Dr. Miriam Engels is an assistant professor at the Open Universiteit and researches how working conditions promote inclusivity and mental well-being. She obtained her doctorate in Public Health at the Heinrich-Heine-University in Düsseldorf, focusing on gender-specific work trajectories. Her current research focuses on themes such as psychological safety, boundary management fit and stress prevention at both the individual and organizational level.