Tradition Knows Best?

            

   The goal of my blog is to understand gender inequality in the work place. Stereotypically women are nurturers while men are the bread winners. These stereotypes are due to the Social Role Theory. Gender stereotypes arise from the traditional roles of men and women. One would think that if women were to enter the work force and take on masculine jobs, this long standing stereotype would end. Disproving my theory, Laurie Rudman et al. (2010) conducted a study that concluded women like to choose careers that are associated with feminine traits, and shy away from masculine jobs.

                The goal of Laurie Rudman’s (2010) research is to see if women that are primed with traditional gender roles from a young age, increase their acceptance of automatic gender stereotypes. Will their acceptance mean a reduction in interest in occupations that typically masculine? One hundred and seventy one women college students completed the Implicit Association Test to measure stereotypes and self- concepts.

                When giving the students the exam, she gave them thirty black and white photos that were each imprinted with a picture of a male or female in a traditional or nontraditional prime. For example, a male economics professor at Stanford would present a typical prime. A traditional female prime would be as a hair dresser or house wife. The atypical primers consist of male and female roles switching, reversing the typical primers.  After this section, the researchers asked each woman which of the careers mentioned they preferred. Results found that typical priming does influence stereotypes and career aspirations for these women. Atypical priming did not influence gender stereotypes.  The research also found that women were less interested in male jobs.

                I believe women’s apprehensiveness to holding traditionally masculine jobs is because it is not easy to enter a male dominated job. Many women might want to avoid social rejection. The participants of the study are college students about to graduate.  These students are not aware of the possibilities that await them. It could be beneficial to question women currently holding jobs that are in search of new opportunities. Their opinions about holding same gender jobs could change after college. In addition, because few women hold prominent positions in male dominated occupations, there are few role models to value.  If all women buy into the theory that traditional roles are best, stereotypes will never find ground to change.


Reference: Rudman, L.A., & Phelan, J.E. (2010). The Effect of Priming Gender Roles on Women's Implicit Gender Beliefs and Career Aspirations. Social Psychology, 41, 192 - 202.

Leadership and Gender

            To research my stereotype that there are work expectations for men and women, I chose a study that looked at the differences in males and females in administrative jobs.  Women are often encouraged to become teachers, while men are attracted to administration roles. In a study done by Marianne Coleman (2003), she analyzes the correlation between gender and leadership roles in male and female principles. In literature reviews she explains that leadership is a male trait, allowing more men to be principles in schools than women.

            Marianne Coleman (2003) conducted a descriptive study in which she interviewed and surveyed male and female principles in England.  She asked them questions about their career progress, family life and experiences after becoming principles. Many of the men acknowledged the differential treatment between men and woman in the workplace, but it obviously did not affect their jobs.  The survey showed that a large majority of women were granted their jobs by men.  In addition, once they were principles they felt that their credibility as a leader was always put into question.  Many times the women principles were believed to be secretaries by parents that would visit the schools.

            One of the important conclusions from the study found that women were extremely conscious of their sex and leadership role. If a woman was believed to be tough for disciplining a student, they came across as “bitchy” instead of stern. In the media, women are generally considered bitchy instead of tough. When Hilary Clinton ran for president, she was a “bitch” because she was an aggressive woman. Women also have the added pressure of juggling work and family life. This can affect their performance because they feel stressed and not respected. In Coleman’s conclusion she states that the problem of women being treated without respect in an administrator’s position has more to do with society. People follow social norms. Deep rooted beliefs in society continuously support male dominance in leadership roles.

Reference: Coleman, M. (2003). Gender and the Orthodoxies of Leadership. School Leadership and Management, Vol 23, No 3, 325-339.