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Published in: Journal of Business Ethics 4/2022

26-03-2022 | Original Paper

Ambedkar, Radical Interdependence and Dignity: A Study of Women Mall Janitors in India

Authors: Ramaswami Mahalingam, Patturaja Selvaraj

Published in: Journal of Business Ethics | Issue 4/2022

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Abstract

In this paper, using Ambedkar’s pioneering vision for engaged Buddhism, we developed the notion of radical interdependence, which consists of four interrelated processes: (a) dialogical recognition; (b) negating invisibilities; (c) dignity as an embodied praxis; (d) ordinary cosmopolitanism. Our research primarily focused on women janitors’ lives (N = 20) in a Mumbai Mall using this conception. Our participants experienced four different kinds of dignity injuries (yelling, invisibility, the target of suspicion of theft of valuables, othering). They used various strategies to preserve personal, intersubjective, and processual dignities. We also found horizontal and vertical ordinary cosmopolitanism strategies to bridge social boundaries between colleagues and mall customers. We further discuss the implications of radical interdependence for organizational research.
previous article Inequality Regimes, Patriarchal Connectivity, and the Elusive Right to Own Land for Women in Pakistan
next article Organizations as Spaces for Caring: A Case of an Anti-trafficking Organization in India
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Metadata
Title
Ambedkar, Radical Interdependence and Dignity: A Study of Women Mall Janitors in India
Authors
Ramaswami Mahalingam
Patturaja Selvaraj
Publication date
26-03-2022
Publisher
Springer Netherlands
Published in
Journal of Business Ethics / Issue 4/2022
Print ISSN: 0167-4544
Electronic ISSN: 1573-0697
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-022-05096-z

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