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Article
Identity -- Safe or Threatening? Perceptions of Women-Targeted Diversity Initiatives
Group Processes and Intergroup Relations
  • Jessica L. Cundiff, Missouri University of Science and Technology
  • Sohee Ryuk
  • Katie Cech
Abstract

One strategy for addressing gender disparities in STEM and leadership focuses on women-targeted diversity initiatives, such as women’s networking groups and women’s leadership development programs. Although well intentioned, targeting diversity initiatives specifically toward women instead of all employees may unwittingly make workplaces appear unwelcoming and biased to prospective employees. To test this notion, undergraduate women and men read a recruitment brochure for a company that framed its diversity initiatives as either targeting women employees or all employees. Both women and men felt less social fit and comfort with the company and were more concerned about being treated negatively and unfairly when diversity initiatives were framed as women-targeted rather than all-inclusive. These results held regardless of whether the company was portrayed as male-dominated or gender equitable (Study 1, N = 117). However, results were somewhat attenuated for women, but not men, when the women-targeted program was portrayed as initiated and led by women employees rather than upper management (Study 2, N = 152). Overall, our results suggest that diversity initiatives may more effectively convey identity safety to both women and men when framed in a way that includes all employees rather than targeting only women.

Department(s)
Psychological Science
Keywords and Phrases
  • Affirmative action,
  • Diversity initiatives,
  • Gender,
  • Inclusion,
  • Recruitment
Document Type
Article - Journal
Document Version
Citation
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2018 SAGE Publications, All rights reserved.
Publication Date
8-1-2018
Publication Date
01 Aug 2018
Disciplines
Citation Information
Jessica L. Cundiff, Sohee Ryuk and Katie Cech. "Identity -- Safe or Threatening? Perceptions of Women-Targeted Diversity Initiatives" Group Processes and Intergroup Relations Vol. 21 Iss. 5 (2018) p. 745 - 766 ISSN: 1368-4302; 1461-7188
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/jessica-cundiff/12/