Stolen Tools

We are a miraculous mess and that is the only way we can be

Sohail Jannesari — 2024-09-10

This article introduces the second issue of Stolen Tools by exploring the concept of the love and ‘the erotic’ as described by Audre Lorde. The erotic is a deep, non-rational life force rooted in creativity, self-knowledge, and authentic emotional connections. The erotic embraces a chaotic plurality of identities; creative, free and authentic expression; and meaningful, nurturing solidarity. It is crucial for resisting racial oppression and something that Stolen Tools aspires to, even in the face of institutional and personal blocks. The second half of this piece presents the papers that constitute this issue and build on its theme. The papers in this issue include fictional stories and a poem exploring the complexities of identity, resilience, and racism, as well as articles analysing the limitations of equality, diversity, and inclusion initiatives in academic and clinical settings. Thank you to everyone who worked on and contributed to this issue including Ricardo Twumasi, Gabi Nieuwoudt, Rubbia Ali, and Hannah Abdalla. Particular thanks to Ebony Burke, who has been seconded from the King’s College London Library and Collections to support our project and is indicative of the creative institutional support that we survive on. I dedicate this issue to my daughter Nika, who inspired the opening article and is one year old at the time of writing.

Cloud the White Tiger

Fadekemi Adeleye — 2024-09-10

For oration:

Listen well
And I will tell
The tale of Cloud the White Tiger. . .

Akani Diagnosis

Adaiah Hudgins-Lopez — 2024-09-10

This story explores the intersection of intergenerational trauma, healthcare discrimination, and racial bias in medicine through the lens of the Akani family. It looks at the complexities of patient-provider communication and the impact of historical medical mistreatment on Black Americans' healthcare-seeking behaviours. The narrative weaves together themes of family dynamics, cultural beliefs, and the struggle for adequate medical care, highlighting the persistent challenges faced by marginalised communities in the healthcare system.

My intuitive experience of intersectional identity(ies)

Papreen Nahar — 2024-09-10

In this poem Papreen discusses her journey to the UK from Bangladesh, the obstacles she faced establishing an academic career here. She effortlessly glides through her many identities, describing the strength each one gave her to endure the migration experience. Papreen describes ‘wearing her intersectional badge with grace’ and how her ‘roots are in an intertwining brew’. Her poem and its contextual introduction are testament to how durable, resilient, and flexible our messy identities make us.

Exploring considerations of equality, diversity and inclusion in selection for a doctorate in clinical psychology programme: A qualitative study

Sapphire Francis — 2024-09-10

Diverse and inclusive healthcare workforces are important to optimise patient access and outcomes. Various attempts have been made to promote equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in clinical psychology; however, clinical psychology doctoral training programmes (DClinPsy) frequently fail to reflect the population demographics of the communities that they serve within the make-up of their trainees. Some research indicates that the lack of diversity might be linked to potential biases within the selection process.
This study seeks to qualitatively explore how application screeners and interview panellists for a DClinPsy programme consider EDI in the selection process. Content analysis of seven semi-structured interviews suggests that participants think broadly about EDI, considering differences between marginalised groups and the provision of equal access for members of these groups. Content analysis of discussions of protected characteristics suggests that, when considering EDI, race, sex, disability, sexual orientation, and socio-economic status prove more salient than other factors such as age, and religion or belief.
Barriers and facilitators to accessing the DClinPsy are discussed. Participants discuss the perceived inadequacy of EDI training for their roles in selection, and conflicts related to different EDI measures such as positive action and standardisation. The findings are discussed with reference to existing literature. Future research should seek to examine the EDI training needs of those involved in the selection process and examine the efficacy of EDI initiatives to improve equity and inclusion for underrepresented groups.

“What master do you serve?” Struggles in university EDI committees

Joseph Lam — 2024-09-10

In light of the recent suspension of the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) advisory group by UK Research and Innovation, this article invites a reflection from my observations as a member of an EDI committee of negative attitudes towards Advance Higher Education charters and EDI committees at higher education institutes. Using race equity as an example, I hope to suggest why these negative attitudes from institute members are by design inevitable, if the Advance Higher Education framework is the only angle in which EDI progress is understood.

Explainer

Benji Ingall — 2024-09-10

An infographic explaining the Abdallah et al. (2022) article, 'Dispossession in occupied Palestine: Children's focus group reflections on mental health'.

Democratising knowledge: AI’s role in academic writing

Tiarna Lee — 2024-09-10

An editorial on AI’s role in academic writing

Organisation Studies Publishing is Racist: A Call for Change

Ricardo Twumasi — 2024-09-10

This paper aims to call out the culpability of academic publishing within the field of organisation studies, and our role as academics in contributing to the lack of ethnically diverse voices in the upper echelons of academic publishing. We provide a summary audit of the ethnic diversity of Management and Organisation Studies (MOS) based on direct responses from 20 journal editors, and the estimated ethnicity of 30,277 contributors. We also provide some potential solutions and discuss what anti-racist publishing could look like. We conclude with a call to act up, with a range of recommendations to be tried and tested to build a more representative and inclusive academe of organization studies.