This project brings together a group of established and emerging scholars, a LGBTQ2S+ advocacy organization leader in Canada, and two leading LGBTQ2S+ advocacy organizations in China (LGBT Rights Advocacy China and Diversity & Inclusion Consulting). The overall goal of this partnership is to develop strategies that LGBTQ2S+ employees can use to cope with and fight against workplace discrimination. A partnership between academics and non-academic partners in Canada and China is of critical and valuable. Having non-academic partners not only provides us the most relevant knowledge and the lived workplace discrimination experiences LGBTQ2S+ employees have but also helps to formulate effective, practical strategies that LGBTQ2S+ employees can use to cope with and fight against discrimination. Examining workplace discrimination against sexual minorities in both countries can offer richer and deeper understanding of this important and urgent issue, discover nuances between two countries, and develop “universal” strategies that help to reduce workplace discrimination. Most importantly, this partnership provides valuable opportunities for exchange of knowledge and experience between academics and non-academic partners to better understanding LGBTQ2S+ employees’ experiences in Canada and China.

To understand the motives, processes, and behaviors LGBTQ2+ employees exert toward disrupting
workplace heterosexism and advocating equal treatment in China

The role of LGBTQ2+ people plays in terms of leading systemic change in addressing gender equality in the public, and private spheres have been identified by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) as an important future global challenge area (“Future Challenge Areas: 2018-21,” 2019), as the society is shifting towards inclusion and substantial diversity in positions of power. Such a challenge indicates that research should focus on the change agent role LGBTQ2+ employees play in leading equality change. In addition, understanding LGBTQ2+ employees’ change agent role is especially important in China, where there is no legislation prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation or identity. The proposed research will provide an improved understanding of how LGBTQ2+ employees engage in activities to disrupt workplace heterosexism and advocate equal treatment in China.

Month: Jul   Year: 2022

Month: Jun   Year: 2024