From one closed door to another: Cumulative discrimination and prejudice against marginalised groups in Europe

Project Information

EQUALSTRENGTH

Grant agreement ID: 101094527

DOI

10.3030/101094527

Project closed

EC signature date 6 December 2022

Start date 1 April 2023

End date 30 June 2026

Funded under

• Culture, creativity and inclusive society

Total cost

€ 2 394 901,25

EU contribution

€ 2 394 901,00

Coordinated by

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DUBLIN, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND, DUBLIN
Ireland

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - EQUALSTRENGTH (From one closed door to another: Cumulative discrimination and prejudice against marginalised groups in Europe)

Reporting period: 2023-04-01 to 2024-03-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The main contribution of EqualStrength is to investigate cumulative and structural forms of discrimination, outgroup prejudice and hate crimes against ethnic, racial and religious minorities from a cross-setting and intersectional perspective. We deploy innovative, targetted and effective methods, which include field experiments, population-level secondary survey data, meso-level policy analysis and targeted data collection to include the perspective of minority groups who directly confront discrimination.

Our approach allows us to meet five interrelated research objectives:

First, we reveal structural and cumulative forms of ethnic and racial discrimination in Europe, focusing on the experience of Muslim, Roma and Black minorities. Second, we assess the systemic nature of prejudice across life domains, targetting anti-Muslim, anti-Black and anti-Roma attitudes. Third, we analyse policy and institutional factors that contribute to structural discrimination and prejudices. Fourth, we document the lived experiences and coping strategies adopted to confront everyday discrimination. And finally, we highlight the intersection of race, ethnicity and religion with other dimensions of inequality such as gender, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic position.

In meeting these objectives, we promise three key contributions:

First, we shift the paradigm, moving from a focus on individuals at risk to a family perspective. Second, we reveal cumulative, structural and intersectional disadvantage, pushing beyond setting-specific and single-group discrimination. Third, we provide a multi-actor and multi-level perspective that simultaneously considers multiple actors (i.e. gatekeepers; ethnic, racial and religious minorities; majority groups) and levels of analysis (i.e. the micro-level of individual decisions; the meso-level of organisations, neighbourhoods, rental agencies and childcare facilities; the macrolevel
of countries and nation-wide institutions).

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Months 1-12 involved a non-trivial investment of time and effort in creating the infrastructure for the WP2 data collection and the research design for WP3, WP4, and WP5. This involved the tight collaboration of each country team to develop the protocols for a synchronised and comparable correspondence studies covering each of the related domains: childcare, housing, and employment. These first 12 months also entailed a development of complimentary data collection using surveys and survey experiments (i.e. WP3-WP5). It is useful to consider each WP independently to better understand the extent of the work to date.

WP1 invested significant time in developing a collaborative working dynamic for the consortium. Aside from the development and registration of the DMP, WP1 coordinated the collaboration of larger group meetings (e.g. WP2) and facilitated a collaboration agreement for the authorship of the scientific output (i.e. article submission for peer review). With the guidance of our partner in Hungary, the consortium-wide meeting resulted in concrete progress in the development of the research design, particularly for WP2.

WP2 involves the largest investment of time so far as it requires the development of a unique application to synchronize and systematize the correspondence studies. Specifically, WP2 started with the finalisation of the research design, registration of the DMP with UCD, and development of consensus-driven protocols for the data collection across multiple contexts and languages. The work also entailed a non-trivial and on-going investment in the coding, software installation, server registration required to automate the large-scale correspondence and eventual responses required for the fieldwork. This phase has largely been completed such that months 12-14 will be fully committed to the data collection. One step that remain, which is well advanced, is the pre-registration of hypotheses, which will be done in parallel with the pilot data collection. In brief, WP2 has progressed on-time and with notable success toward the planned data collection. This achievement is notable as much of the research design and implementation (i.e. cumulative dimensions of correspondence, international comparative design) did not have a clear precedent.

WP3, WP4 and WP5 all achieved their key goals for months 1-12, which was the formal development of the research design and, in some cases (e.g. WP4), comprehensive literature reviews. For each WP, this involved a series of facilitated meetings by the WP leads to establish consensus on the design. Given the logistical needs of WP2, the overall timeline of EqualStrength planned for a sequential implementation of the data collection. As a result, the next year (i.e. months 12-14) will focus on the translation of the research design into the creation of the municipal database (i.e. WP3) and the survey/experiments (i.e. WP4, WP5). In sum, the key objectives of delivering the fully developed research design for WP3-WP5 has been completed.

WP6, which is focused on dissemination, has developed - in partnership with the WP1 lead - a website, Bluesky account and relationship with key stakeholders/NGOs. This is part of a systematic and complete dissemination strategy, which was a key deliverable for months 1-12. This included the compilation of communication activities, direct 1-on-1 contact with stakeholders, and overall social media strategy to communicate progress and relationships with other on-going research initiatives. In addition, the lead for WP6 has played a key role in developing the publication strategy for WP2 (i.e. collaboration agreement), which is a template for other WPs.

Overall, the success in the months 1-12 achievements is reflected in the on-time and substantive deliverables. Moreover, the timeline has worked out well - despite its ambition - in that the fieldwork is starting when it should with the infrastructure in place to support its success.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

It is still early stages in terms of the impact of the research. There is a reasonable and plausible expectation that the cumulative and international comparative design of the data collection will results in a important step forward for research on discrimination, but these details will emerge more clearly in months 12-36.