Gender, formal organizational status and humor use: perceptions of social acceptance

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy R. Moake ◽  
Christopher Robert
Keyword(s):  
Social Acceptance ◽  
Social Role ◽  
Role Expectations ◽  
High Status ◽  
Organizational Status ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Gender Influence ◽  
Aggressive Humor ◽  
Influence Perceptions ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeHumor can be a useful tool in the workplace, but it remains unclear whether humor used by men versus women is perceived similarly due to social role expectations. This paper explored whether female humorists have less social latitude in their use of aggressive and affiliative humor in the workplace. This paper also examined how formal organizational status and the target's gender can impact audience perceptions.Design/methodology/approachTwo scenario-based studies were conducted where participants rated the foolishness of the humorist. For Study 1, participants responded to a scenario with an aggressive, humorous comment. For Study 2, participants responded to a scenario with an affiliative, humorous comment.FindingsResults suggested that high-status female humorists who used aggressive humor with low-status women were viewed as less foolish than low-status female humorists who used aggressive humor with low-status women. Conversely, status did not impact perceptions of male humorists who used aggressive humor with low-status women. Results also indicated that high-status women who used affiliative humor were viewed as less foolish when their humor was directed toward low-status men versus low-status women. Conversely, no differences existed for high-status men who used affiliative humor with low-status men and women.Practical implicationsNarrower social role expectations for women suggest that interpersonal humor can be a riskier strategy for women.Originality/valueThis study suggests that women have less social latitude in their use of humor at work, and that organizational status and target gender influence perceptions of female humorists.

Going the extra mile

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 18-20
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Citizenship ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Organizational Outcomes ◽  
Role Expectations ◽  
Psychological Climate ◽  
Citizenship Behaviors ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Pertinent Information ◽  
Hr Managers ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings Employees are increasingly demanded to perform beyond their daily role expectations, in order to create effective organizational outcomes and gain competitive advantage. Performing organizational citizenship behaviors (OCBs) can lead to positive outcomes. To increase such behaviors, HR managers can use high-performance human resource practices (HPHRPs) which demonstrate investment in employees. Employees then perceive a more positive psychological climate (PC) in the workplace and are likely to reciprocate by investing more of themselves and increasing work engagement (WE) and motivation. Originality/value The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.

Unmasking the career impacts of Queen Bee syndrome within organizational hierarchies

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Organizational Status ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Female Manager ◽  
Societal Values ◽  
Senior Women ◽  
Pertinent Information ◽  
Organizational Hierarchies ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings This research paper concentrates on understanding the experiences of Saudi Arabian women who've worked under a female manager, and on determining how these relationships with senior women impact the career prospects of women lower in the hierarchy. The results reveal that when positive sisterly relationships are achieved with a female manager, the less senior women feel their workplace is aligned with societal values. However, the relationship quickly becomes toxic when female managers begin displaying Queen Bee behaviors to protect their organizational status from potential competition. Originality/value The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.

scholarly journals Robotopias: mapping utopian perspectives on new industrial technology

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rhiannon Firth ◽  
Andrew Robinson
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Social Role ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Human Essence ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Labour Power ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThis paper maps utopian theories of technological change. The focus is on debates surrounding emerging industrial technologies which contribute to making the relationship between humans and machines more symbiotic and entangled, such as robotics, automation and artificial intelligence. The aim is to provide a map to navigate complex debates on the potential for technology to be used for emancipatory purposes and to plot the grounds for tactical engagements.Design/methodology/approachThe paper proposes a two-way axis to map theories into to a six-category typology. Axis one contains the parameters humanist–assemblage. Humanists draw on the idea of a human essence of creative labour-power, and treat machines as alienated and exploitative form of this essence. Assemblage theorists draw on posthumanism and poststructuralism, maintaining that humans always exist within assemblages which also contain non-human forces. Axis two contains the parameters utopian/optimist; tactical/processual; and dystopian/pessimist, depending on the construed potential for using new technologies for empowering ends.FindingsThe growing social role of robots portends unknown, and maybe radical, changes, but there is no single human perspective from which this shift is conceived. Approaches cluster in six distinct sets, each with different paradigmatic assumptions.Practical implicationsMapping the categories is useful pedagogically, and makes other political interventions possible, for example interventions between groups and social movements whose practice-based ontologies differ vastly.Originality/valueBringing different approaches into contact and mapping differences in ways which make them more comparable, can help to identify the points of disagreement and the empirical or axiomatic grounds for these. It might facilitate the future identification of criteria to choose among the approaches.

The conflict between social role expectations and entrepreneurial role demands among women entrepreneurs in sub-Saharan Africa: empirical study from Ethiopia

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hundera Mulu ◽  
Geert Duysters ◽  
Wim Naudé ◽  
Josette Dijkhuizen
Keyword(s):  
Role Conflict ◽  
Women Entrepreneurs ◽  
Social Role ◽  
Work And Family ◽  
Role Expectations ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Role Demands ◽  
Entrepreneurial Role

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop items for measuring the role conflict between social role expectations (SREs) and entrepreneurial role demands (ERDs) among women entrepreneurs in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Design/methodology/approach This paper uses 20 interviews and literature from SSA to develop items, a survey of 408 to conduct factor analysis and a survey of 307 to conduct criterion validity analysis. Findings Statistical analysis shows that the scales used adequately captured two dimensions of SRE and ERD conflict: SRE-to-ERD conflict and ERD-to-SRE conflict. It was found that the SRE-to-ERD-conflict scale is reliable and valid with the five dimensions of entrepreneurial success and that women entrepreneur’s experience significant role conflict between SREs and ERDs. Research limitations/implications The implication is that standard scales measuring work and family conflict, which tend to focus solely on the work and family context, cannot adequately account for role conflict among women entrepreneurs. Practical implications The practical implications of these findings are discussed. Originality/value New scale items form measuring the conflict between SREs and ERDs were developed.

scholarly journals Artificial intelligence and the future of work – lessons from the sociology of expectations

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lilla Vicsek
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Role Expectations ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Alternative Pathways ◽  
Future Of Work ◽  
Sociology Of Expectations ◽  
The Future ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeWhat is the future of work going to look like? The aim of this paper is to show how the sociology of expectations (SE) – which deals with the power of visions – can make important contributions in terms of thinking about this issue by critically evaluating the dominant expert positions related to the future-of-employment- and artificial intelligence (AI) debate.Design/methodology/approachAfter providing a literature review regarding SE, an approach based on the latter is applied to interpret the dominant ideal-type expert positions in the future of work debate to illustrate the value of this perspective.FindingsDominant future scripts can be characterized by a focus on the effects of AI technology that give agency to technology and to the future, involve the hype of expectations with polarized frames, and obscure uncertainty. It is argued that these expectations can have significant consequences. They contribute to the closing off of alternative pathways to the future by making some conversations possible, while hindering others. In order to advance understanding, more sophisticated theorizing is needed which goes beyond these positions and which takes uncertainty and the mutual shaping of technology and society into account – including the role expectations play.Research limitations/implicationsThe study asserts that the dominant positions contain problematic assumptions. It makes suggestions for helping move beyond these current framings of the debate theoretically. It also argues that scenario building and backcasting are two tools that could help move forward thinking about the future of work – especially if this is done in a way so as to build strongly on SE.Practical implicationsThe arguments presented herein enhance sense-making in relation to the future-of-work debate, and can contribute to policy development.Originality/valueThere is a lack of adequate exploration of the role of visions related to AI and their consequences. This paper attempts to address this gap by applying an SE approach and emphasizing the performative force of visions.

Matching-up celebrities’ brands with products and social causes

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 242-255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Luisa Santos ◽  
Filipa Barros ◽  
António Azevedo
Keyword(s):  
Social Acceptance ◽  
Personality Profiles ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Product Lines ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Product Categories ◽  
Matching Process ◽  
Social Causes ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeBeyond traditional brand endorsement, many celebrities have in recent years decided to launch their own product lines, which may be used to promote their own celebrity brand. Which product categories or social causes match a celebrity’s brand personality? This study aims to investigate the antecedents of celebrity–product degree of fit and willingness to pay (WTP)/make a donation in different scenarios. The manipulation of the scenarios aims to capture the role of celebrity attributes, perceived personality profiles, product involvement and acceptance of social causes.Design/methodology/approachIn total, 335 respondents answered an online questionnaire with a factorial plan corresponding to 20 different matching scenarios: five celebrities/perceived personalities (Emma Watson, Jennifer Lawrence, Kim Kardashian, Natalie Portman and Scarlet Johansson) × four types of branding scenarios (a lipstick for low involvement; a watch for high involvement; an eco-foundation for “high social acceptance” and vodka for “low social acceptance/controversial”).FindingsScarlett Johansson obtained the highest degree of fit, both for launching her own brand of lipstick or a watch. Kim Kardashian had the best degree of fit for launching her own vodka brand, while Emma Watson’s attributes confirmed that she would be seen as the ideal founder of an eco-foundation. Significant predictors of WTP/make a donation were assessed by multiple linear regression for each type of product.Practical implicationsThe paper provides recommendations that may help guide celebrity brand managers through the celebrity–product matching process.Social implicationsCelebrity branding in relation to social causes is also discussed in this paper.Originality/valueThis study explores a gap found in the literature as it explores the product match-up hypotheses within a celebrity branding context and moreover extends this investigation to social causes and products with different degrees of involvement and social acceptance.

Obligations and feeling envied: a study of workplace status and knowledge hiding

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (5) ◽  
pp. 347-359
Author(s):  
Yan Liu ◽  
Julie N.Y. Zhu ◽  
Long W. Lam
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
High Status ◽  
Positive Outcomes ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Time Points ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
Comprehensive Framework ◽  
Knowledge Hiding ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeStatus is a key in the workplace. Although status is desirable when it has positive outcomes, little is known about its negative consequences. This study investigates both the bright and dark sides of workplace status in terms of employees' feelings and behaviors.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from 227 employees in various industries at two time points.FindingsWorkplace status is associated with knowledge hiding through two opposing mechanisms: felt obligation to share knowledge and feeling envied.Practical implicationsManagers may need to direct high-status employees' attention to felt obligation to share knowledge and shift their attention away from feeling envied.Originality/valueOur study enriches the understanding of workplace status by theoretically proposing and empirically testing a comprehensive framework that simultaneously considers its positive and negative impacts.

A quantitative and qualitative analysis of social dominance orientation and race-related comments

2014 ◽  
Vol 34 (7/8) ◽  
pp. 531-544 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aneika L. Simmons ◽  
Rochelle Parks-Yancy
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Social Dominance ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Social Dominance Orientation ◽  
High Status ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Status Group ◽  
Group Members ◽  
Group Member ◽  
Influence Perceptions

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to determine how social dominance orientation (SDO) might influence perceptions of bias when the race of the offender and the target of the biased comment is either white or black. Design/methodology/approach – This investigation was conducted in a laboratory with undergraduate students. Findings – In a study utilizing American student participants, the authors found that when an individual is high in SDO they are more likely to perceive racism/stereotyping when a low-status group member (i.e. African-American) makes a racially biased comment about high-status group members (i.e. Caucasian). Originality/value – The authors determined the influence of SDO on the perception of racial comments regarding African-Americans and Caucasians. These findings are also unique in that the authors manipulate the authority (i.e. status) of the offender and target.

Intrapreneurial behaviors of organizational members. A conceptual view: how contextual expectations can explain the entrepreneurship roles in organizations?

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Korhan Arun ◽  
Suat Begeç ◽  
Olcay Okun
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Role Theory ◽  
Role Expectations ◽  
Management Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Interactionist Perspective ◽  
Conceptual Paper ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Or Team ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This study aims to develop theoretical arguments about the factors promoting nascent intrapreneurship relative to role theory. These arguments principally draw on contributions from interactional and structural sociology. Fixed theoretical tools for intrapreneurship are not quite enough. So, structural and interactionist perspective of sociology is necessary to understand the intrapreneurship concept because intrapreneurs live in a society and shape their course per the expectations of others. Previous approaches depend on individual, organizations or environment to push potential employees to be intrapreneurs. Expectations may be a keystone for intrapreneurship because intrapreneurs have been trying to explain or make progress about what is seen as crucial; more importantly, they learn their roles. Design/methodology/approach This is a conceptual paper about explaining intrapreneurship. Foregoing literature has been trying to explain the phenomenon by individual, organizational or environment endeavors to transform employees to be intrapreneurs. Role theory stems from interactional and structural sociology. Promoting the internal entrepreneur process by overcoming resistance to switching to a more structured management approach and adopting management systems and processes in a timely way is still a vague approach. So, the structural and interactionist perspective of sociology is necessary to understand the concept because intrapreneurship is a contextual factor rather than activity. Findings Expectations can convey what others consider particularly important or necessary. Intrapreneurship is a type of personal entrepreneur role influenced by expectations. Practical implications Intrapreneurship is not solely entrepreneurship in organizations but is also governed by the specific combinations of circumstances generally outside of the organizational environment, such as families, coworkers and friends. Originality/value The present paper seeks to answer three primary research questions: how differentiation among subunits changes intrapreneurship role expectations, how the intrapreneurs’ role has been affected from unlike expectations and are group or team-level expectations on intrapreneurs’ roles distinctive than organization and individual levels.

A social role perspective on trust repair

2016 ◽  
Vol 35 (8) ◽  
pp. 1045-1055 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shayna Frawley ◽  
Jennifer A. Harrison
Keyword(s):  
Gender Roles ◽  
Gender Role ◽  
Role Theory ◽  
Social Role ◽  
Social Role Theory ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Trust Repair ◽  
Gender Egalitarianism ◽  
And Training ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to apply insights from social role theory to trust repair, highlighting the underexplored implications of gender. Trust repair may be more difficult following violations that are incongruent with the transgressor’s gender role. Design/methodology/approach This paper reviews research on trust repair, particularly Kim et al.’s (2004, 2006) discovery that apologizing with internal attributions is best for ability-related violations and denying responsibility is best for integrity-related violations. Propositions about trust repair are grounded in attribution and social role theory. Findings Trust violations may incur a bigger backlash when they are incongruent with gender roles, particularly for individuals in gender-incongruent professions and cultures with low gender egalitarianism. Men may find ability-related violations more difficult to repair. Women may find repairing benevolence and integrity-related violations more difficult. When apologies are offered, attributions that are consistent with gender roles (internal attributions for men, external attributions for women) may be most effective. Practical implications Gender can be a relevant factor in trust repair. Policies and training addressing conflict should consider how these differences manifest. Originality/value Gender role differences have largely been overlooked in trust repair. By integrating social role theory and exploring benevolence-based violations, this paper offers a more complete understanding of trust repair.

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