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Article
Perception Checking in Action: Critically Reflecting on Gendered Communication Within Workplace Interactions
Management Teaching Review (2023)
  • Mark J. Congdon, Jr., Sacred Heart University
  • Nicole Jackson
Abstract
In the Two Islands Activity, students are given a fictitious prompt to examine and reflect on how their positionality influences their perceptions regarding their assumptions about gender and sexuality in interpersonal workplace interactions. Through the active process of perception checking, students examine how gender and sexuality stereotypes may influence their perception of a situation and their potential implications on business relationships. The activity is framed around the interpersonal Communication Theory of Identity as it relates to positionality, or how multiple identities (i.e., race, ethnicity, gender, class, sexuality, ability, age, and political ideology) in social and political contexts shape gender and sexuality roles and stereotypes within the workplace. Perception checking is an active, reflective process of asking questions and seeking alternative viewpoints to account for disentangling these perceptions. This activity encourages students to reflectively examine their identities, experiences, and stereotypes concerning cultural norms and ideologies of gender and sexuality.
Keywords
  • interpersonal communication within the workplace,
  • gender stereotypes and positionality,
  • perception checking,
  • Communication theory of identity,
  • business communication
Publication Date
Summer June 23, 2023
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1177/23792981231178514
Citation Information
Mark J. Congdon and Nicole Jackson. "Perception Checking in Action: Critically Reflecting on Gendered Communication Within Workplace Interactions" Management Teaching Review (2023) ISSN: 2379-2981
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/mark-congdon/38/