Gay And Lesbian Discrimination In The Workplace: The Role Of Agentic And Communal Trait Expectations
Access Type
Open Access Dissertation
Date of Award
January 2019
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Boris Baltes
Abstract
Workplace discrimination is a recurring problem in organizations, particularly in organizational processes such as employee selection. Such discrimination is caused by a variety of factors including stereotyping of people by demographic identities and prejudice against various demographic groups. While federal and local legislation protects many stigmatized groups such as race and gender minorities, sexual minorities are largely unprotected. Previous research on sexual orientation reveals a diverse set of negative experiences. However, evidence for formal discrimination against sexual minorities in personnel selection has been inconclusive. Drawing on Role Congruity Theory, perceived characteristic misfit, cognitive stereotyping, and emotionally influenced prejudicial feelings are examined as explanations for how and when sexual orientation influences selection decisions. Results of the study reveal that situational and demographic moderators do affect sexual orientation-related hiring bias. However, results suggest that the central premises of Role Congruity Theory do not extend to sexual orientation.
Recommended Citation
Krenn, Daniel, "Gay And Lesbian Discrimination In The Workplace: The Role Of Agentic And Communal Trait Expectations" (2019). Wayne State University Dissertations. 2172.
https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/oa_dissertations/2172