The structure and content of the male gender role stereotype: An exploration of subtypes

What drives entrepreneurs to engage in antisocial economic behaviors? Without dismissing entrepreneurs’ agency in their decision-making processes, our study aims to answer this question by proposing that antisocial economic behaviors are a dysfunctional coping mechanism to reduce the psychological tension that entrepreneurs face in their day-to-day activities. Further, given the overlap between the male gender role stereotype and both leader and entrepreneur role stereotypes, this psychological tension should be stronger in female entrepreneurs (or any person who identifies with the female gender role). We argue that besides the well-established female gender role – leader role incongruence, female entrepreneurs also suffer a female gender role – entrepreneur role incongruence. Thus, we predicted that men (or those identifying with the male gender role) or entrepreneurs (regardless of their gender identity) that embrace these roles stereotypes to an extreme, are more likely to engage in antisocial economic behaviors. In this context, the term antisocial economic behaviors refers to cheating or trying to harm competitors’ businesses. Finally, we predicted that embracing an authentic leadership style might mitigate this effect. We tested our predictions in two laboratory studies (Phase 1 and 2). For Phase 1 we recruited a sample of French Business school students (N = 82). For Phase 2 we recruited a sample of Costa Rican male and female entrepreneurs, using male and female managers as reference groups (N = 64). Our results show that authentic leadership reduced the likelihood of entrepreneurs and men of engaging in antisocial economic behaviors such as trying to harm one’s competition or seeking an unfair advantage.

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Male Gender Role Conflict and Willingness to Seek Counseling

PsycEXTRA Dataset ◽

10.1037/e685322007-001 ◽

2007 ◽

Author(s):

Erin L. Pederson ◽

David L. Vogel

Keyword(s):

Gender Role ◽

Role Conflict ◽

Gender Role Conflict ◽

Male Gender ◽

Willingness To Seek Counseling ◽

Male Gender Role

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Beyond biology: The importance of cultural factors in explaining gender disparities in STEM preferences

European Journal of Personality ◽

10.1177/0890207020980934 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 35 (1) ◽

pp. 45-50

Author(s):

Mona El-Hout ◽

Alexandra Garr-Schultz ◽

Sapna Cheryan

Keyword(s):

Gender Differences ◽

Gender Role ◽

Computer Science ◽

Cultural Factors ◽

Male Gender ◽

Cultural Factor ◽

Gender Disparities ◽

Policy Implications ◽

Stem Fields ◽

Male Gender Role

Gender disparities in participation in many STEM fields, particularly computer science, engineering, and physics, remain prevalent in Western societies. Stewart-Williams and Halsey contend that an important contributor to these disparities is gender differences in career-related preferences that are driven partly by biology. We argue that Stewart-Williams and Halsey understate the influence of cultural factors in shaping these preferences. We provide evidence for an important and overlooked cultural factor that contributes to gender disparities in computer science, engineering, and physics: masculine defaults. Masculine defaults exist when cultures value and reward traits and characteristics associated with the male gender role and see them as standard ( Cheryan & Markus, 2020 ). We provide examples of how changing computer science, engineering, and physics cultures can decrease gender disparities in participation. Finally, we discuss policy implications, specifically the importance of (1) recognizing that preferences for STEM are malleable and (2) addressing exclusionary cultures of STEM fields. Recognizing and changing exclusionary STEM cultures are important for creating a society that is more just and equitable.

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