Darden School of Business, University of Virginia, USA

From a Critical Theory to a Complex Adaptive Systems Perspective on Environmental Justice

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Abstract

It is not clearly understood why and when activists, politicians, and managers frame
environmental justice (EJ) within a racial issue, a class issue, or a mix of both (i.e., an
intersectional issue). In this paper I applied critical theory to explore the ways in which people in power framed EJ. My results suggested individuals may use race-conscious and/or class-
conscious rhetoric to fulfill their own motivations and goals. Only 60% (N=82) of the EJ campaigns sampled were race-conscious, but those that were could be organized into two main
categories: one that paired racial diversity and intersectionality, and one that veered away from
both racial diversity and class issues. This suggests EJ may be best approached as a system of
problems with nested racial and social class effects. This study contributes to diversity, equity,
and inclusion research by suggesting social class framing may occasionally exacerbate social
inequalities.

Biography

Catherine (Cat) Owsik’s research program reflects her life-long interest in the interconnection
between business, environmental sustainability, and justice. It is rooted in the understanding
that businesses and nature share one critical condition: in order to thrive, they need diversity. Cat uses a systems lens to examine why organizations fall short, and when diverse and counter-
normative business concepts may engender social and environmental good. For example, in one research stream Cat examines emotions in intertemporal dynamics at work. In another, she
focuses on the intersection of race and social class.

Her research has been featured in MIT Sloan Management Review and the New York Times. She
is a 2020 Environmental Resiliency Institute Fellow as well as a Lim Kim San Fellow in organizational behaviour for 2021. Prior to graduate school, Cat worked in environmental non-
profits in Vancouver and her hometown, Toronto.