Multiple Discrimination: Personal and Institutional Perceptions, Impacts, and Actions

This paper investigates the phenomenon of Multiple Discrimination in Hungary, with special attention paid to cases of intersectionality based on ethnic origin. The research unfolds those mechanisms that lead to multiple discrimination in the field of job seeking, hiring, and employment. The phenomenon of multiple discrimination is studied, on the one hand, from the perspective of decision-makers representing public and private employment agencies; on the other hand, from those who are the victims of discrimination on multiple grounds. The research project identifies the personal and institutional perceptions, impacts of and actions taken with regard to discrimination by the various stakeholders. Through a series of semi-structured interviews and a survey of private and public employment agency clients we demonstrate how a low awareness level of discrimination, in particular of multiple discrimination, among victims, and a high inertia and inaction on behalf of decision-makers lead to the reproduction of social mechanisms responsible for discrimination.