Revealing white supremacy culture in an organization that supports queer and trans youth

• Published in: Qualitative research in organizations and management Vol. 18; no. 4; pp. 326 - 349
• Main Authors: Christensen, M. Candace, Elías, María Verónica, Alcocer, Érica, Vicente, Shannyn
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bradford Emerald Publishing Limited 07.11.2023; Emerald Group Publishing Limited
• Subjects: Decision making; Ethnography; Fund raising; Marginality; Nonprofit organizations; Oppression; Organizational culture; Paternalism; Racism; Sexuality; Social support; Transgender persons; White supremacy; Youth organizations; United States > US; Texas; Queer and trans youth; Nonprofit organizations; Nonprofit; Critical ethnography; Critical theory; White supremacy; Youth studies; NGOs; Intersectionality; LGBTQ youth; Interpretation
• ISSN: 1746-5648; 1746-5656
• DOI: 10.1108/QROM-05-2022-2349

PurposeThis study aims to illustrate how white supremacy culture can be produced within nonprofit organizations with a mandate to serve marginalized communities and provide practical suggestions for preventing oppression.Design/methodology/approachThe site of inquiry was a nonprofit organization in south central Texas that provides social support to queer and trans youth. Through critical ethnography, the researchers evaluated the organization's processes and structure (including hierarchy, decision-making, fundraising and interactions between leaders, partners and affected groups) to explore how the organization perpetuated attributes of white supremacy culture.FindingsData reveal that the organization alienates the youth, volunteers and employees through defensiveness, fear of open conflict, paternalism, perfectionism and power-hoarding.Originality/valueA dearth of research focuses on how white supremacy culture manifests in organizations serving marginalized communities. This paper addresses this gap by focusing on a nonprofit organization in central Texas that supports queer and trans youth. The authors offer recommendations for addressing white supremacy culture in organizations and suggest future research opportunities.