Critical perspectives in diversity and equality management

Purpose – This paper aims to draw conceptual links between the papers in this special issue, arguing that diversity and equality research is located within varying socio‐political, socio‐demographic and geo‐political contexts and should therefore be seen as fluid and subject to ongoing reformation. Design/methodology/approach – This paper provides a thematic and analytical review of six papers from the Gender, Diversity and Management track of the European Academy of Management Conference, held at HEC, Paris in May 2007. Findings – The paper draws out themes that transcend organisation and nation boundaries, showing how socio‐cultural and political location has an important bearing on gender and diversity work identities, constructions and ultimately, organisation development priorities. Practical implications – The paper seeks to encapsulate contemporary thinking in the discipline of equality and diversity management with specific focus on its interaction with the externalities of region, power, politics and society. Originality/value – The paper contributes to the developing discourse of employment‐based diversity research in the international arena. It highlights the limitations of a fixed perspective of identity and difference, stressing the need to account for positionality in scholarly research.