Ann M. Beaton

Neosexism: Plus Ça Change, Plus C'est Pareil

A scale designed to tap into a new type of gender prejudice, called neosexist beliefs, is proposed. Two studies investigating antecedents and consequences of neosexism were conducted. In the first study, a predictive model was tested with a sample of 130 male students. It was found, according to hypotheses, that considerations of collective interest (CI) and old-fashioned sexism had an impact on neosexism. However, only the latter and CI triggered opposition to affirmative action (AA). The second study evaluated the effects of CI and neosexism among a sample of 149 male workers employed in a firm where an exhaustive AA program was implemented. For example, it was found that support for the program in place and evaluations of womens qualifications were influenced both by neosexism and by CI. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Reactions to Affirmative Action: Group Membership and Social Justice

A program designed for either women, visible minorities, or disabled persons was rated by 264 women and men respondents. An analysis of variance revealed that reactions to affirmative action varied according to the sex of the respondent and the group targeted by the policy. Further analyses were conducted to examine the effects of two social justice concerns on support for affirmative action, that is, scope of justice (extending fair treatment onto others) and perceived threat on behalf of nondesignated groups. According to findings, the link between social justice concerns and reactions to the policy was affected by the group targeted by affirmative action. Furthermore, both social justice concerns were not equally important predictors of attitudes toward affirmative action for women and men respondents.

The Representation of Women in Management: The more, the Merrier?

The purpose of the present study is to examine how the numerical restructuring of the workforce affects the experiences of women within management. Research suggests that when considering numerical restructuring, a distinction should be made between the numerical representation of women and their level of intrusiveness. The effects of these two factors on the experiences of discrimination among female managers were examined in light of the concept of relative deprivation. Moreover; relative deprivation was used to account for womens motivation to promote their personal and collective situation. Reactions from a total of 253 female managers were investigated. Structural equation modeling technique (EQS) confirmed in part the proposed model Practical and theoretical issues are discussed.

Policewomen Acting in Self-Defense: Can Psychological Disengagement Protect Self-Esteem From the Negative Outcomes of Relative Deprivation?

The role of 2 components of psychological disengagement (discounting and devaluing) in the relation between personal relative deprivation and self-esteem was explored in 3 samples of policewomen. Path analyses conducted with the 3 samples revealed that stronger feelings of personal relative deprivation resulted in stronger discounting of work evaluations, which in turn led to devaluing the importance of police work. A negative relation between discounting and self-esteem was observed in all samples. Other related outcomes of disengagement, professional withdrawal and stress, were also evaluated.

Neosexism among Women: The Role of Personally Experienced Social Mobility Attempts

An extension of the neosexism model based on the assumption that neosexism derives from experiences of upward mobility within the broader social structure of male-female relations was proposed and evaluated in a sample of 335 secretaries employed in a Canadian federal agency. It posited that the more women attempted to access nontraditional fields of work, the more they experienced discrimination. Personally experienced discriminatory barriers were related to feelings of collective relative deprivation. Moreover, the more women felt deprived on behalf of their group, the less they endorsed neosexist beliefs. Finally, a reverse effect was predicted between neosexism, collective relative deprivation, and responses to affirmative action and a pro-male bias in the evaluation of the competence of male and female managers. Support for this model was obtained by a structural equation modeling technique (EQS).

Strength in Numbers? Women and Mathematics.

Two studies were conducted to test the link between numerical distinctiveness, stereotype threat and mathematical performance among women. In the first study, stereotype threat was measured with a stereotype activation task. Women in a solo, non-solo or control condition completed word fragments and a mathematical activity. Solo women, rather than their non-solo counterparts showed mathematical performance deficits. Evidence did not support the mediating role of stereotype activation. In the second study, stereotype anxiety was assessed. According to analyses, solo women reported greater stereotype-related anxiety than non-solo women. A link between stereotype anxiety and mathematical performance deficits was also uncovered. Finally, mathematical underperformance was associated with greater interest in feminine activities. Strategies to buffer the effects of stereotype threat are discussed.RésuméDeux études ont été menées dans le but d’évaluer le lien entre la force numérique, la menace du stéréotype et le rendement à une tâche de mathématiques chez les femmes. Dans la première étude, la menace du stéréotype a été mesurée en fonction d’une tâche d’activation des stéréotypes. Les femmes dans les conditions “solo”, “non-solo” et contrôle ont complété des mots et une tâche de mathématiques. En comparaison aux femmes des autres groupes, celles dans la condition “solo” ont moins bien réussi la tâche en mathématiques. L’hypothèse de l’effet médiateur de la menace du stéréotype n’a pas été appuyée. Dans la deuxième étude, l’anxiété associée au stéréotype a été évaluée. Selon les analyses, les femmes dans la condition “solo” ont éprouvé davantage d’anxiété associée au stéréotype que celles assignées à la condition “non-solo”. Un lien a été obtenu entre l’anxiété associée au stéréotype et la contre-performance à la tâche de mathématiques. Enfin, la contre-performance en mathématiques est associée à l’intérêt dirigé vers des activités féminines. Les stratégies visant à réduire les effets de la menace du stéréotype sont discutées.