Abstract
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Culture and Organization |
| Volume | 24 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| Pages (from-to) | 114-133 |
| Number of pages | 20 |
| ISSN | 1475-9551 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2018 |
Bibliographical note
Published online: 27. November 2017Keywords
- Anxiety
- Desire
- Diversity management
- Lacan
- Lack
- Psychoanalysis
Cite this
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Desired Diversity and Symptomatic Anxiety : Theorising Failed Diversity as Lacanian Lack. / Friis Christensen, Jannick; Muhr, Sara Louise.
In: Culture and Organization, Vol. 24, No. 2, 2018, p. 114-133.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - Desired Diversity and Symptomatic Anxiety
T2 - Theorising Failed Diversity as Lacanian Lack
AU - Friis Christensen, Jannick
AU - Muhr, Sara Louise
N1 - Published online: 27. November 2017
PY - 2018
Y1 - 2018
N2 - This paper conceptualises organisational diversity as constituted by psychoanalytic lack. Empirically, we show how diversity as Lacanian lack is understood as nothing in or of itself, but as an empty signifier with no signified. The lack of diversity becomes a catalyst for desiring particular ideas of diversity that, however, constantly change due to the empty form of diversity. Anxiety manifests itself in the obsession of unobtainable idealised forms of diversity as well as in the uncertainty associated with the traumatic experience of always falling short of what is desired in an object – the experience of failed diversity. Conclusively, we discuss the productive potential of the power of lack. The impossibility of diversity is what, at once, conditions the possibility of diversity. We therefore suggest that the symptomatic anxiety provoked by the lack should be enjoyed in order to engage with new meaningful desires and fantasies of organisational diversity.
AB - This paper conceptualises organisational diversity as constituted by psychoanalytic lack. Empirically, we show how diversity as Lacanian lack is understood as nothing in or of itself, but as an empty signifier with no signified. The lack of diversity becomes a catalyst for desiring particular ideas of diversity that, however, constantly change due to the empty form of diversity. Anxiety manifests itself in the obsession of unobtainable idealised forms of diversity as well as in the uncertainty associated with the traumatic experience of always falling short of what is desired in an object – the experience of failed diversity. Conclusively, we discuss the productive potential of the power of lack. The impossibility of diversity is what, at once, conditions the possibility of diversity. We therefore suggest that the symptomatic anxiety provoked by the lack should be enjoyed in order to engage with new meaningful desires and fantasies of organisational diversity.
KW - Anxiety
KW - Desire
KW - Diversity management
KW - Lacan
KW - Lack
KW - Psychoanalysis
KW - Anxiety
KW - Desire
KW - Diversity management
KW - Lacan
KW - Lack
KW - Psychoanalysis
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U2 - 10.1080/14759551.2017.1407764
DO - 10.1080/14759551.2017.1407764
M3 - Journal article
VL - 24
SP - 114
EP - 133
JO - Culture and Organization
JF - Culture and Organization
SN - 1475-9551
IS - 2
ER -