Invisible Exclusion and Inequality Through the Construction of 'Meritocracy' and 'Elite Identity'

Seminar abstract

This presentation examines the construction of meritocracy in the context of a post-colonial society, how the constructed meritocracy constitutes an elite identity, and how meritocracy and elite identity produce visible and invisible exclusion and inequality in the field of higher education.

Based on an empirical study of a business school in Bangladesh, it is argued that meritocracy is solely constructed with the notion of success – the accumulation of economic, social and cultural capital in academic and professional fields.

Such construction automatically creates an elite identity in the business school where powerful actors believe that they are the best.

To protect their social positions and habitus, they exclude others who have different backgrounds. These social actors are also dominating agents of state political parties led by women.

However,

They marginalize women from a leadership position to protect their male hegemony and macho discourse.

This the information in this presentation contributes to the literature by arguing that overpopulation, poverty and a thin labour market inherently intensify competition in a post-colonial country.

Those who succeed become insecure, therefore, exclude others to protect their habitus and hegemony.

Booking

This seminar is free to attend with no need to register in advance.

We warmly invite you to share with your friends, colleagues and classmates.

You can join this seminar online on Wednesday 5 May 2021 at 12pm.

Speaker bio

Dr Shoaib Ahmed is a Lecturer in the Department of Accounting, Essex Business School, University of Essex.

He completed his PhD in Accounting from the same school in 2019.

His current research focuses on;

• corruption,
• (gender) exclusion/inequality,
• modern slavery,
• oppression,
• workplace bullying

and their association with accounting and other organizational practices in global organizations.

He presented papers in many conferences including the Academy of Management (AOM), British Academy of Management (BAM) and British Accounting & Finance Association (BAFA).