On Being Included

On Being Included examines institutional diversity work and the experiences of diversity practitioners in higher education. Through interviews and institutional case studies, Sara Ahmed investigates how diversity initiatives function within universities in the UK and Australia. The book tracks the journey of diversity documents and policies as they move through institutional spaces. Ahmed analyzes how terms like "diversity" and "equality" circulate and what happens when these words become institutionalized. The text incorporates Ahmed's own experiences as a diversity worker alongside accounts from other practitioners in the field. Their narratives reveal the obstacles, resistance, and institutional dynamics they encounter while trying to create organizational change. This study of diversity work illuminates broader questions about institutional power, racism, and the relationship between words and actions in bureaucratic settings. Ahmed's analysis demonstrates how documents and policies can serve as both tools for change and barriers to transformation.

Readers value Ahmed's detailed examination of diversity work in higher education institutions through first-hand accounts and interviews with diversity practitioners. Many appreciate her analysis of how bureaucratic processes and institutional commitments often serve to block real progress. Positive reviews highlight: - Clear explanation of how diversity initiatives get "stuck" in institutions - Personal narratives that illustrate theoretical concepts - Analysis of language and documents around diversity work Common criticisms: - Dense academic writing style can be challenging to follow - Some sections feel repetitive - Limited practical solutions offered Ratings: Goodreads: 4.24/5 (387 ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (31 ratings) From reviews: "She articulates experiences that diversity workers know but struggle to explain" - Goodreads reviewer "Important ideas buried in unnecessarily complex prose" - Amazon reviewer "The phenomenology of hitting your head against a brick wall - perfect metaphor for diversity work" - Goodreads reviewer

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🔍 Sara Ahmed conducted her research for this book by interviewing diversity practitioners at higher education institutions over several years, providing firsthand accounts of institutional racism and resistance. 📚 The term "institutional diversity work" was significantly shaped by this book, which frames it as both physical and emotional labor performed predominantly by people of color. 🎓 The book draws on Ahmed's personal experience as a diversity practitioner at Goldsmiths, University of London, where she later resigned in protest over the institution's handling of sexual harassment. 💡 The concept of "non-performativity" introduced in the book describes how institutions often make diversity commitments without following through, effectively using statements as substitutes for action. 📋 Ahmed uses "brick wall" as a recurring metaphor throughout the book to describe how diversity workers repeatedly encounter institutional resistance, making their progress feel like "banging your head against a brick wall."