Thesis
How deviation from traditional gender norms influences the harassment experiences of heterosexual men, heterosexual women, gay men, and lesbians
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
2013
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/103793
Abstract
This paper examines how deviation from traditional gender norms influences the experience of three types of harassment in the workplace and how sexual orientation and gender impacts that relationship. Gender norm enforcement theory of harassment suggests the policing of gender norms may be an important catalyst for gender-based forms of harassment in the workplace. It has been suggested by research and theory that masculine gender norms are stricter and seen as more serious when broken than feminine gender norms. Similarly, sexual minorities are seen as a seriously deviating from hetero-normative gender norms. Accordingly, it was predicted that deviation from traditional gender norms would increase the likelihood of experiencing harassment in the workplace; and that relationship would be moderated by gender and sexual orientation. Data from 788 employed individuals who completed an on-line survey were used to evaluate these hypotheses. Results of multivariate regression analyses indicated that deviation from gender norms was predictive of respondent’s experiences of gender-based harassment in the workplace. However, this effect was observed only for men and women who exhibited cross-gender physical traits. While sexual orientation moderated the impact of feminine physical traits on sexual coercion in the predicted direction, heterosexuals experienced a greater increase in harassment. Theoretical and methodical implication of the results and direction for future research are discussed.
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Details
- Title
- How deviation from traditional gender norms influences the harassment experiences of heterosexual men, heterosexual women, gay men, and lesbians
- Creators
- Jason Conrad Potwora
- Contributors
- Armando X. Estrada (Degree Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Psychology, Department of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; [Pullman, Washington] :
- Identifiers
- 99900525149701842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis