Marjolein Dennissen

73 An intersectional analysis of diversity networks Political intersectionality: coalition building between diversity networks Using the concept of political intersectionality, I shed light on how diversity networks attempt to build coalitions between multiple identity categories. My analysis shows, however, that coalition building is challenging and actual collaboration between diversity networks remains limited in both organizations. Despite the low level of actual collaboration, networks articulate a strong rhetoric of wanting to work together: collaboration between different diversity networks is desirable and something to strive for. My data suggest that the networks’ rhetoric of “we should collaborate” is predominantly motivated by instrumental objectives. [The LGBT network] have been active much longer, they are pretty well organized nationally, so they have a subsidiary too, so annually they can organize [events]. I did some networking with them, (…) you have to be clever like that. Look, they do have some money. (Fran, women’s network and LGBT network Govt) So you have different [disability networks] (…) who are all individually kicking towards the organization. That is not really organized, coordinated. Sometimes you have the same interests. Of course, sometimes you do not. It would be nice actually if you could let those [disability networks] exist, all with their own issues, because all have their own problems, but with for example a meeting with all chairs, so there is a representative nationally for the HR side and management. Because (…) management will go crazy if we all going to do that individually. ( John, disability network Govt) The accounts of Fran and John illustrate that collaborations between diversity networks are important in gaining resources. Fran realizes that her own women’s network and the LGBT network maintain different positions. She thinks strategically about the collaboration with other networks and taking advantage of their financial resources. Additionally, according to John, building coalitions is valuable in order to have a better chance of receiving organizational support: allegedly, a coalition of different disability networks would have a stronger claim on getting the desired attention from the management. Next to instrumental objectives, diversity networks also refer to possible coalitions that are valuable for mutual learning experiences. I think that we as networks within [Finance] should gang together much more. In the sense of, you can learn so much from each other. There have been so many battles. That for example the women, the gays and the disabled have had as well. (Mo, ethnic minority network and young employee network Finance) According to Mo, different diversity networks within Finance should collaborate more. He sees the potential for possible coalitions and considers these coalitions to be valuable for mutual