RESEARCH OVERVIEW
Kyneshawau Hurd’s research examines issues at the intersection of Diversity, Dominance, and Discrimination (3D). Her 3D framework explains how seemingly pro-diversity decisions, policies, and practices can still maintain group-based hierarchies and power structures. By focusing solely on identity without addressing underlying systems of dominance and power, these efforts may perpetuate inequality. This research provides a more nuanced understanding of modern discrimination, where even well-intentioned actions can uphold the status quo. She uses this model as a foundation for her novel Power, Belonging, and Justice (PBJ) framework, which calls for a shift from the traditional DEI framework to a more robust, power-conscious approach to social justice.
Diversity, Dominance, & Law in the Tech Eco-System
This line of research explores how dominance operates within the diversity infrastructure Tech & Business. Kyneshawau investigates the strategic use of legal mechanisms, such as trade secrecy law, to obscure diversity-related disclosures, as well as contractual practices in venture capital investment decisions negatively impacting underrepresented founders. Her work focuses on all players in the tech ecosystem, from founders to investors, and reveals how structural inequities are perpetuated through subtle legal and psychological means.
(Implicit) Social Dominance & Diversity-related Decision-making
This line of research develops and applies the first ever implicit measure of social dominance orientation (ISDO) to uncover hierarchy-maintaining motivations within seemingly egalitarian policies, people, and organizations. It uses this to explain the diversity principle-policy gap and builds on her novel framework of Power, Belonging, & Justice (PBJ) vs. DEI as a means of social change.
Perceptions of Intersectionality, Identity, & Identity-Safety
Exploring and expanding perceptions of identity and the interconnected hierarchies of experience that result. This line of research also examines the strategic use and/or exploitation of identity to maintain group-based dominance and hierarchies.