...The Glass Ceiling And Women In The Workplace Sabra D. Pope SOC 490: Social Science Capstone Professor Sandy Smith October 10, 2011 There are far too many businesses around the world that either choose to or unconsciously interfere in the progress of women into higher positions. This problem, even if it is unconscious, can usually be back-tracked to the beginnings of a woman’s entrance into the workplace. This problem can especially be traced if she exhibits any proclivity for moving into management and a desire for moving further up the executive ladder. The reality is that women hold far fewer positions in management and executive ranks is not a new view. Women face many obstacles when trying to advance up the corporate ladder. Two of these obstacles are discrimination and stereotyping. But, the concept that is not new but may be unexpected is that there is the impression that many more obstacles are placed in a woman’s path from the beginning of their career when contrasted with a man’s career. There are several factors that seem to impede women from reaching upper management level positions. Two of these factors are the fact that women are less likely to get involved in variable pay schemes that are based on their work performance but there are also a lot fewer opportunities to obtain mentoring from those in executive positions. Ever since women have sought equal pay for equal work economists have tried to present an explanation of the pay gap between...
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...Personality and Stereotyping Theories I. Introduction: Taking a leadership or management role in the workplace is inherently challenging. This is because it falls upon leadership to manage a wide variance of personalities and needs. This is why it’s important to develop a complete understanding of the various theories describing workplace behavior. In the case of this discussion, Personality Theory and Stereotyping Theory offer the opportunity for insight into management the specific workplace challenges of Anger Management and Conflict. II. Selected Topic: A. Personality Theory was selected for its versatility. According to Cherry (2008), this is a theoretical model in which a wide range of lenses can be used to understand individual motivations. Behavioral, psychodynamic, humanist and trait theories can all be used to understand individual personalities and to work within the scope of their respective needs. Cherry traces personality theory to models proposed by Erickson, Piaget, Freud and Skinner, all in the early 20th century. According to Hellriegel/ Slocum (2011), Personality theory is a person's beliefs about the relationships between another's physical characteristics and personality. B. Stereotyping Theory would emerge a little later but from a similar school of thought. Writing in 1998, Levy et al would observe that “over the last two decades, research on social cognition has identified fundamental cognitive processes involved in the formation...
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...Assignment 2 Topic: Ethnic-based stereotyping in the workplace Introduction In this discussion, I will be looking at the topic of ‘Ethnic-based stereotyping in the workplace’. Stereotyping affects us all, and we do it every day, most of the time without us even realising it. Hopefully by the end of this discussion, I will have informed you of what the basic principles are behind specifically ethnic stereotyping, how it works, how it affects us and the workplace, and a quick look at some of the ways an organisation can help manage it. So, without further ado. What is ethnic stereotyping? First, the definition of stereotyping, it is the process of assigning traits to people on the basis of their membership in a social category (McShane, Orlekands & Travaglione 2014, p. 78), the word ethnic, refers to the fact or state of belonging to a social group that has a common national or cultural tradition (Oxford Dictionary: Ethnicity 2015). Integrating the ethnic factor in, the definition would become, the process of assigning traits to people on the basis of their ethnic category. Ethnic stereotyping, or any stereotyping for that matter, is a natural error associated with the general perceptual process, which being, is the process of receiving information about the world, through our senses, then to be either interoperated or screen out, so we can make sense of our world (McShane, Orlekands & Travaglione 2014, p. 75). This concept of ethnic stereotyping is very simple and easy to...
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...The role of gender in workplace stress: A critical literature review Kristina 1 Gyllensten and Stephen 2 Palmer Abstract Objective The aim of this review was to evaluate research relating to the role of gender in the level of workplace stress. A further aim was to review literature relating to stressors of particular relevance to working women. These stressors included, multiple roles, lack of career progress and discrimination and stereotyping. Design Systematic review. Method Major databases were searched in order to identify studies investigating gender and workplace stress. A range of research designs included and no restrictions were made on the basis of the occupations of the participants. Results Much of the research indicated that women reported higher levels of stress compared to men. However, several studies reported no difference between the genders. Furthermore, the evidence for the adverse effects of multiple roles, lack of career progress and discrimination and were stereotyping was inconsistent. Conclusion The current review concluded that the evidence regarding the role of gender in workplace stress and stressors was inconsistent. Limitations of the research were highlighted and implications for practice were discussed. Key words: workplace stress, gender, stressors Introduction Workplace stress Stress in the workplace is a major problem for both organisations and employees, and it has been estimated that approximately 13.4...
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...evident that Hopkins was not yet ready to take the leap. Notorious for being abrasive and overly aggressive with colleagues, despite good intentions no doubt, several partners had counseled her to improve her relations with staff members. Although later evaluations indicate slight improvements in interpersonal skills, Hopkins' shortcomings in this critical area remain a concern. There were also doubts about her management methods and integrity, as evidenced by the billing discrepancies incident. Given the expectation of a partner and her qualities, as well as shortcomings, we would not have promoted her. (214 words) 2. After you read the case, read the APA’s friend-of-the-court brief. In this brief it is argued that sex stereotyping caused sex discrimination that deprived Ann Hopkins of partnership at Price Waterhouse. Do you agree? While we believe Hopkins should not have been promoted due to areas she needed improvements...
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...Women get the Short Stick Gender equality and gender roles go hand in hand in today’s economy. These two concepts complement each other to the extent in which one must know about both to fully understand the capacity of either. Gender roles are roles each sex is given. These are stereotypical things. For example, things like women cook and males work. In todays economy men and women are not equal. Gender inequality and gender roles are one of our countries biggest issues. Gender is how people are seen by society. This is imprinted in the brain at a young age and is formed and molded through childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and late adulthood. Each stage comes with different ideas about gender and power. Childhood is the point in life where the environment most influences the formation of gender schemas and stereotypes. Gender schemas are an important part of understanding how a person sees the opposite sex. Gender Schemas are “the generalizations that children develop about the differences between boys and girls” (Stevenson 3). On the other hand there is stereotyping. Stereotyping is also process that begins during childhood. Young children know that male stereotypes are high in power whereas female stereotypes convey fear and helplessness. Children are influenced by information about gender from family, peers, and the media (Stevenson 3). This justifies the argument that men and women aren’t treated equal. Gender Roles are evident, but may not be consciously recognized during...
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...& Olff, 2012). In Britain, an estimation of over 13 millions work days are lost due to stress, depression and anxiety (Gyllensten & Palmer, 2005). Women and men experience the same levels of stress in workplace, however the stressors are different between the genders. Women stressors are due to lack of career progress, discrimination, and stereotyping (Gyllensten & Palmer, 2005). There is a lack of adequate research concerning the coping skills and social support women use to manage workplace stress. The study will focus on the stressors women face at work, and the affect of coping skills and social support has on them managing these stressors. A survey method of research will provide experiences from women aged between 25-50 years old, various races, and ethnical backgrounds in stressful workplace situations and how their management of stress is affected by coping skills and social support. Purpose Statement The purpose of this study is to examine the extent and affect of coping skills and social support has on management of stress for women in the workplace. Many women are placed in positions of support and have fewer opportunities for advancement (Hall, Everett, & Mason, 2012). Previous literature suggests that gender plays a significant role in work stress, with women experiencing higher levels of stress than men (Gyllensten & Palmer 2005). The stressors examined in this study consist of lack of career development, discrimination,...
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...Developing Social Perception Skills in the Workplace Matthew Bay Organizational Behavior MAN5245 7/24/2015 Professor Woods Mcafee Developing Social Perception Skills in the Workplace As a manager who is in charge of hiring employees and in charge of developing a training program it is essential for these individuals to be culturally sympathetic and have the ability to choose their words correctly so that they don’t violate fair hiring practices by discriminating against individuals based on gender race, religion, ethnicity, or disability. Before the interview process can take place the interviewer must determine their definition of self-perception. In general social perception is how an individual processes information about another individual. In general our perception of another individual or situation is based on characteristics of how we perceive ourselves, characteristics of the target person, and characteristics of the situation (Nelson & Quick, 2013). Each of these elements have their own characterizes. For example the perceiver must familiarize him or herself with the target, maintain a positive mood and attitude when interviewing employee prospects, and maintain professionalism and ethics. The target hire must do their best to give a good impression to the interviewer by presenting a good first impression and having good verbal communication skills. Communication is a key role in social perception. There are two major forms of communication verbal communication...
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...feel very strongly against the patterns of women in the workplace differing from those of men. Women have historically been viewed as caretakers and or as worthy only of dead-end jobs (Schaefer, 2012). The pattern of pay inequity between employed women and men has been a continuing problem. To this day there is pay inequity and women struggle with the glass ceiling barrier. The patterns of discrimination, sexual harassment, and lack of opportunities still plague a women’s future in the workplace. In addition, there is a pattern that has been established by the societal roles women are assigned. Women are expected to clean the house, take care of the children, and work. While the man typically works and does occasional yard work on the weekends. After discussing this observation from my own relationship, my fiancé agreed that he could do more chores in the house and help with the children. This week my son has been battling a bacterial infection in his throat and I took two days off from work to take him to the appointments and hospital. I asked my fiancé why I always have to take time off for the children and why he does not believe in sharing this responsibility. He just looked at me and said, “Because that is how it has always been.” I am happy to announce that this pattern will be changing in my home. Furthermore, we as a society need to become more accepting of both men and women sharing EQUAL roles in the workplace and in the home. Discuss what you learned in this class...
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...Analyzing the Benefits of Cultural Diversity in Organizations Name Institution Instructor Course Date Submitted Managing Cultural Diversity in Organizations Chapter 1: Introduction Human resource management is one of the core functions of business managers. Organizational productivity is influenced by the degree of effectiveness with which employees are managed and directed to perform their duties. One major challenge that human resource managers face in this regard is promoting harmony and coexistence in multicultural workplace environments. Since the beginning of the 18th century Industrial Revolution in Europe, business companies have had to deal with a growing number of people from different cultural backgrounds. This demographic transformation of the workplace was a result of advancements in the transport industry. The invention of the steam engine, and later on, the airplane, facilitated fast movement of goods and people across international boundaries. Over time, companies expanded their business activities beyond their local markets, giving rise to multinational corporations. Satair U.S.A is a multinational corporation with branches in several countries around the world. The company specializes in aircraft maintenance and the distribution of aircraft spare parts. As a multinational company, Satair employs people from different cultural backgrounds in its plants around the world. Consequently, the...
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...know other people. Stereotypes are learned at an early age from our parents and peers. It was assumed that girls would be housewives and stay-at-home moms while boys would become the main bread winner. If they did work, women mainly worked in female-dominate roles, such as secretaries and nurses. Men were mainly employed in fields such as law enforcement, military or engineering. There are many stereotypes in the workplace; gender, race, sexual preference, age, and religion. Some of the stereotypes that represent my own views are gender and age stereotypes. Gender stereotypes are generalizations of the role of each gender. Women and men suffer when they restrict their occupational choices to those that seem suitable for members of their sex (George Powell, pg. 78). Men are more likely to gravitate toward jobs such as engineering, carpentry, and computer science; where women tend to seek jobs such as nursing, teaching, and helping people. Stereotypes can be harmful in the workplace because people put labels on others based on general assumptions. I believe gender stereotypes still exist as to what is considered “women’s work.” In the workplace women face many more challenges than men as a result of stereotyping, such as wage discrimination. Although they have made great strides, women are still making less than men in comparable jobs. Women must provide more evidence of their abilities to be seen as competent (Powell, pg. 105). Confident, assertive women are also...
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...will linger for a very longer time not because laws have not been put in place to uphold it because its implementation will require adequate follow up and time. The way the society sees women plays a crucial role in gender equality. Gender role affects the way women and men are expected to behave and act in a given society and this behavior differs among cultures and ethnic groups. The role of a girl or boy is first initiated by their parents. The mother of a girl child is usually more protective of her and she is taught different etiquettes which she must follow and if not obliged she is seen as wayward and a societal misfit. The fiction “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid illustrates this when she writes “this is how you….this is how you behave in the presence of men who don’t know you very well, and this way they won’t recognize immediately the slut I have warned you against becoming” this depicts how a girl is expected to live by certain rules made by her mother to protect her from becoming a “no good”. The girl has no voice and is expected to do as she told. Boys on the other hand, are portrayed as tough, strong and need less protection than girls. The women are required to satisfy men’s every need and if they try to speak they are punished. However, the shift in gender roles in the past 30 years has been huge. It has happened so quickly that men and women are still trying to sort out what...
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...particular way. (Oxford Dictionaries, 2013) The role of money as a motivator at work has been widely argued over a number of years. Some people say that money is the prime factor that gets employees motivated at work; some people say there are other more important factors that influence employees. It is necessary to look at various theories in order to answer the question about the role of money as a motivator in the workplace. “Where there is little pleasure in the work itself…many people may appear to be motivated primarily, if not exclusively, by money” (Mullins, 2007). Victor Vroom’s expectancy theory of motivation (1964) develops an idea that the amount of effort and level of performance directly depends on the value of the reward at the end and the overall probability of achieving it and thus, motivates employees (Mullins, 2007). The motivational force is presented as follows: ------------------------------------------------- MOTIVATIONAL FORCE = (EXPECTANCY ×INSTRUMENTALITY) × VALENCE ------------------------------------------------- Source: Hitt, Miller, Colella (2006) A combination of factors such as the sense of manageable, attractive outcomes/rewards (valence) and the overall probability of getting the reward (expectancy), leads to motivation with the help of hard work and effort. Hitt, Miller and Colella (2006) claim that the given theory has got some implications for managers who try to increase motivation in the workplace, with one of the things that could be done...
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...Social Roles in Society June 18, 2011 Social Roles in Society Social roles are patterns of behavior expected from people in various social positions. The concept of social role provides a way to name individuals interdependencies. The expectations that society puts on an individual, socialization is combined with changes in social behavior and organization. Psychology can help identify the components of the development of attitudes and how they change. Many psychologists subscribe to the belief that we take on, and act out certain roles because of cultures and societies (Social Roles and Expectations, n.d.). In 1971 Psychologist Philip Zimbardo along with his colleagues conducted a study that was focused on becoming a prisoner or prison guard. More than 70 applicants answered a newspaper ad and were given application and screening to eliminate people with psychological problem, medical disabilities, and a history of crime or drug abuse (Stanford Prison Experiment, n.d.). A prison environment was assembled in the basement of the Stanford University Psychology Department building. The planned two week investigation ended after only six days, due to the guards and questioning of its morality by Christina Maslach, who was a recent Stanford Ph.D. Social influence is a change in a person’s behavior conducted by the presence or actions of others (Coon & Mitterer, 2010). Stereotyping patterns can easily be identified, when referring to Zimbardo’s Prison, social roles...
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...woman’s household roles impact her work outside the home. One way that a woman's household roles impact her work outside of the home would be if a woman were to become pregnant. Even if the woman is successful in her designated field of work, traditional beliefs and beliefs of the younger generation lean towards the woman staying home to tend to the child. Although the younger generation doesn’t specifically state that it will be the woman’s responsibility to stay at home, it is more often than not the female as noted by Lindsey (2011). Another way in which a woman’s household roles impact her work outside of the home is when it comes to hiring and promotion. As noted by Lindsey (2011), married women with children are often considered a liability as employers feel that women will favor their family over the workplace when the corporate and family life juggling act occurs. This impacts women with children in the workplace as they can be seen as unreliable and less dedicated. This is unfortunate as many fathers have to struggle with work and family, but that fact doesn’t affect them in the same what that it does women. Lindsey, L. (2011). Global Perspectives of Gender. Gender Roles A Sociological Perspective (pp.272-301). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458. Prentice Hall. 2. How does stereotyping related to the female gender role impede female managers as they perform their corporate roles and as they strive for upward mobility in those roles? Stereotyping directly affects...
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