Women & Men in Management

Chapter 1 – Sex, Gender, and Work

Views on the trend Gender Equality◦ Optimistic view◦ Pessimistic view

What does the glass ceiling entail?◦ Lower-level management◦ Underrepresentation on corporate boards◦ Lower compensation

On the Psychology of Sex

Current Proportion of Women in the Labor Force

• What can we attribute the differences to?• Variation in national culture• Definition of the term manager

Differentiate between sex and gender

Sex differences vs. gender differences◦ Perception◦ Relationship between the two

Self-fulfilling prophecy

Sex Versus Gender

Stereotyping

Prejudice

Discrimination

Effects of Sex Differences at Work

Primary dimensions◦ Unchangeable personal characteristics

Sex Race Ethnicity Physical ability/disability

Secondary dimensions◦ Changeable personal characteristics

Education Income Marital Status Religion

Dimensions of Diversity

Group membership visibility◦ Sex

Changeability◦ Sexual orientation

Categorization Self-identity

Effects: Dimensions of Diversity

In research◦ Assumption: sex & gender differences are similar

across all racial and ethnic groups

Comparing effects of stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination◦ Oversimplification of complex issues

Compromised Dimensions

What is a bias?

Differentiate between:◦ Alpha bias◦ Beta bias

Watching Out for Biases

Personal prejudice

Two-category system◦ A reinforcement of alpha bias

Popular media

Causes of Bias

1. When a sex difference is found in an aspect of human behavior, this does not always signify completely polar behaviors between sexes.

2. Sex differences are not necessarily biologically based and they are subject to change.

Guarding Against Assumptions

Chapter 1◦ Analyze transition in sex/work relationships

Chapter 2◦ Consider sex and gender work roles in the 20th

century◦ Effects of historical influences◦ Current status of women and men in today’s

workforce

Organization of the Book

Chapter 3◦ Effects of sex and gender differences on behavior◦ Psychological findings on sex differences◦ Understanding male/female interactions◦ Gender role expectations and limitations

Chapter 4◦ Decision-making on employment relationships◦ Differences in job search strategies◦ Sex discrimination in hiring decisions◦ Recommendations for reducing sex & gender

effects on employment

Chapter 5◦ Effects of sex and gender on behavior in teams◦ Differences of behavior in team composition◦ Recommendations for team members and leaders

Chapter 6◦ Effects of leader preferences and stereotypes◦ Attitudes toward female leaders◦ Sex differences in actual leader behavior and

effectiveness

Chapter 7◦ Expression of sexuality in the workplace◦ Sexual harassment and workplace romances◦ Causes and consequences

Chapter 8◦ Balancing work and family◦ Diversity of family structures◦ Sex differences in measurement of success

Chapter 9◦ Solutions to problems identified in Chapters 1-8

Optimistic view Pessimistic view Glass ceiling Sex Gender Sex differences Gender differences Self-fulfilling prophecy Stereotype Prejudice

Discrimination Primary dimensions of

diversity Secondary

dimensions of diversity

Bias Alpha bias Beta bias Two-category system

Chapter 1 Terms