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Article
Using Experiential Learning to Increase the Recognition of Everyday Sexism as Harmful: The WAGES Intervention
Journal of Social Issues
  • Jessica L. Cundiff, Missouri University of Science and Technology
  • Matthew J. Zawadzki
  • Cinnamon L. Danube
  • Stephanie A. Shields
Abstract

The harms of subtle sexism tend to be minimized despite negative cumulative effects, thus people may be less motivated to address subtle sexism. We tested the effectiveness of an experiential learning intervention, WAGES-Academic (Workshop Activity for Gender Equity Simulation-Academic), to educate about the harms of subtle sexism in the academic workplace. Across two studies, WAGES increased the recognition of everyday sexism as harmful and promoted behavioral intentions to discuss and seek information about gender inequity compared to a control condition that provided identical information as WAGES but without experiential learning. These effects were due to WAGES limiting reactance and promoting self-efficacy. Moreover, WAGES did not differ in reactance or self-efficacy compared to a control condition that provided no gender inequity information. This suggests that WAGES buffers the potential negative effects of simply presenting gender inequity information. Results suggest that WAGES, and experiential learning more broadly, has the potential to change attitudes and behaviors about everyday sexism.

Department(s)
Psychological Science
Document Type
Article - Journal
Document Version
Citation
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2014 Wiley-Blackwell, All rights reserved.
Publication Date
1-1-2014
Publication Date
01 Jan 2014
Disciplines
Citation Information
Jessica L. Cundiff, Matthew J. Zawadzki, Cinnamon L. Danube and Stephanie A. Shields. "Using Experiential Learning to Increase the Recognition of Everyday Sexism as Harmful: The WAGES Intervention" Journal of Social Issues Vol. 70 Iss. 4 (2014) p. 703 - 721 ISSN: 0022-4537
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/jessica-cundiff/8/