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;
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 the 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 the 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 (will follow soon).
• For more information or questions, please 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
	Prof. Jojanneke van der Toorn is an expert in workplace inclusion, with a focus on LGBTQ+ employees. As a professor at Leiden University and associate professor at Utrecht University, she investigates socio-psychological factors behind support for or resistance to social change. Her work exposes blind spots in diversity policy and actively links scientific insights to practice through advice, monitoring and education.
Researchers
	Dr. Jill Knapen is a university lecturer at the Open University and theme leader in the field of social inequality and diversity. 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 University and researches how working conditions promote inclusivity and mental well-being. She obtained her PhD 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.