Active representation and identity taxation: unintended outcome of representative labour?

Drawing on the theory of representative bureaucracy, which shows that minority bureaucrats will actively represent the interests of minorities from the same socio-demographic group, we argue that institutions could use active representation for institutional performative goals through identity taxation resulting in an unintended outcome of representative labour. We contribute a novel conceptual model of representative labour, enhancing understandings of individual-organizational interface, through research involving thirty-five interviews with academics and professionals, who have a role in addressing gender inequality in British and Irish higher education institutions through an equality charter award scheme, namely Athena SWAN.