Role Congruity Theory
Encyclopedia
The role congruity theory proposes that a group will be positively evaluated when its characteristics are recognized as aligning with that group’s typical social roles (Eagly & Diekman, 2005). Coined by Eagly and Karau (2002), prejudice
toward female leaders occurs because inconsistencies exist between the characteristics associated with the female gender stereotype and those associated with the typical leadership.
One of the two main causes of prejudice preventing women from achievement of high-status positions or success is the perception of women when placed in leadership
roles.In an article on prejudice towards female leaders Eagly and Karau (2002) found that women who are leaders are perceived in a less positive manner when compared to male leaders. Eagly and Karau (2002) also showed that women have a more difficult time achieving high status positions in the workplace and in maintaing these positions through achievement and success. Evidence suggests that prejudice towards women in leadership positions occurs more frequently in situations where larger inconsistencies between female gender roles and leadership roles are present.
Eagly (1987) suggest women due to their socially accepted roles are more often perceived in lower status positions than those of their male counterparts. These accepted gender stereotypes allow for a greater prediction of sex differences between males and females in social behavior
s.
Findings consistent with this theory can be seen in evidence presented by Eagly and Karau (1991), who found that men emerged more often than women as leaders. Although women do advance in social leadership roles, positions of leadership involving specialization
or behaviors related to a groups purpose are more often attributed to men.
Ritter and Yoder (2004) provide further evidence of gender role differences in leadership positions between men and women. Women and men, based on their level of dominance
, were placed in groups consisting of either (man, man), (woman, man), or (woman, woman) and then assigned task randomly. Participants with higher dominance ratings emerged as leaders in all groups except for (woman, man) pairs. When assigned task were of a masculine
, or gender neutral nature, males emerged more often than females as leaders. These findings suggest that even when women possess dominant characteristics, masculinized task as well as gender stereotypes prohibit the emergence of women into leadership positions.
2. Women in Faculty Roles
Research on role congruity theory further indicates that women in faculty positions struggle with meeting the expectations of the male-dominated role (Whitley & Kite, 2010). Caplan (1994) asserts characteristics associated with the female stereotype (i.e. “nuturance”, “warmth”, and “supportiveness”) are incongruent with the expectations of faculty—which are masculine in nature (i.e. “directive”, “assertive”, “knowledgeable”). Therefore, a female faculty member violates societal expectations for both the categories of women and leader. This violation results in both discrepant expectations for men and women and more negative evaluations of women in such positions. Consistent with role congruity theory, Winocour, Schoen and Sirowatka (1989) found ratings of male professor
s were not dependent on their lecture style. However, female student
s were more favorable of a female professor with a discussion-based lecture style and male students only preferred female professor who focused on providing information. Further, Statham, Richardson and Cook (1991) noted students delegated more negative evaluations to female professors with a teaching style low in structure than males regardless of their teaching style. Similarly, Kierstad, D’Agostino and Dill (1988) reported that only female professors who socialized with students received positive ratings; male ratings were not affected by this factor.
Prejudice
Prejudice is making a judgment or assumption about someone or something before having enough knowledge to be able to do so with guaranteed accuracy, or "judging a book by its cover"...
toward female leaders occurs because inconsistencies exist between the characteristics associated with the female gender stereotype and those associated with the typical leadership.
Empirical Support
1. Women in Leadership RolesOne of the two main causes of prejudice preventing women from achievement of high-status positions or success is the perception of women when placed in leadership
Leadership
Leadership has been described as the “process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task". Other in-depth definitions of leadership have also emerged.-Theories:...
roles.In an article on prejudice towards female leaders Eagly and Karau (2002) found that women who are leaders are perceived in a less positive manner when compared to male leaders. Eagly and Karau (2002) also showed that women have a more difficult time achieving high status positions in the workplace and in maintaing these positions through achievement and success. Evidence suggests that prejudice towards women in leadership positions occurs more frequently in situations where larger inconsistencies between female gender roles and leadership roles are present.
Eagly (1987) suggest women due to their socially accepted roles are more often perceived in lower status positions than those of their male counterparts. These accepted gender stereotypes allow for a greater prediction of sex differences between males and females in social behavior
Social behavior
In physics, physiology and sociology, social behavior is behavior directed towards society, or taking place between, members of the same species. Behavior such as predation which involves members of different species is not social...
s.
Findings consistent with this theory can be seen in evidence presented by Eagly and Karau (1991), who found that men emerged more often than women as leaders. Although women do advance in social leadership roles, positions of leadership involving specialization
Division of labour
Division of labour is the specialisation of cooperative labour in specific, circumscribed tasks and likeroles. Historically an increasingly complex division of labour is closely associated with the growth of total output and trade, the rise of capitalism, and of the complexity of industrialisation...
or behaviors related to a groups purpose are more often attributed to men.
Ritter and Yoder (2004) provide further evidence of gender role differences in leadership positions between men and women. Women and men, based on their level of dominance
Dominance
Dominance may refer to:* Dominance , an aspect of virtual inheritance in the C++ programming language* Dominance , in economics, the degree of inequality in market share distribution...
, were placed in groups consisting of either (man, man), (woman, man), or (woman, woman) and then assigned task randomly. Participants with higher dominance ratings emerged as leaders in all groups except for (woman, man) pairs. When assigned task were of a masculine
Masculine
Masculine or masculinity, normally refer to qualities positively associated with men.Masculine may also refer to:*Masculine , a grammatical gender*Masculine cadence, a final chord occurring on a strong beat in music...
, or gender neutral nature, males emerged more often than females as leaders. These findings suggest that even when women possess dominant characteristics, masculinized task as well as gender stereotypes prohibit the emergence of women into leadership positions.
2. Women in Faculty Roles
Research on role congruity theory further indicates that women in faculty positions struggle with meeting the expectations of the male-dominated role (Whitley & Kite, 2010). Caplan (1994) asserts characteristics associated with the female stereotype (i.e. “nuturance”, “warmth”, and “supportiveness”) are incongruent with the expectations of faculty—which are masculine in nature (i.e. “directive”, “assertive”, “knowledgeable”). Therefore, a female faculty member violates societal expectations for both the categories of women and leader. This violation results in both discrepant expectations for men and women and more negative evaluations of women in such positions. Consistent with role congruity theory, Winocour, Schoen and Sirowatka (1989) found ratings of male professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
s were not dependent on their lecture style. However, female student
Student
A student is a learner, or someone who attends an educational institution. In some nations, the English term is reserved for those who attend university, while a schoolchild under the age of eighteen is called a pupil in English...
s were more favorable of a female professor with a discussion-based lecture style and male students only preferred female professor who focused on providing information. Further, Statham, Richardson and Cook (1991) noted students delegated more negative evaluations to female professors with a teaching style low in structure than males regardless of their teaching style. Similarly, Kierstad, D’Agostino and Dill (1988) reported that only female professors who socialized with students received positive ratings; male ratings were not affected by this factor.
See also
- Gender EqualityGender equalityGender equality is the goal of the equality of the genders, stemming from a belief in the injustice of myriad forms of gender inequality.- Concept :...
- SexismSexismSexism, also known as gender discrimination or sex discrimination, is the application of the belief or attitude that there are characteristics implicit to one's gender that indirectly affect one's abilities in unrelated areas...
- Gender RoleGender roleGender roles refer to the set of social and behavioral norms that are considered to be socially appropriate for individuals of a specific sex in the context of a specific culture, which differ widely between cultures and over time...
- Sociology of genderSociology of genderSociology of gender is a prominent subfield of sociology. Since 1950 an increasing part of the academic literature, and of the public discourse uses gender for the perceived or projected masculinity or femininity of a person...
- Stereotype fit hypothesisStereotype fit hypothesisThe stereotype fit hypothesis suggests that group members will experience discrimination in different social roles or positions to the extent that their group stereotypically does not have characteristics associated with success in the position...
- Shifting Standards ModelShifting Standards ModelIn the shifting standards model, people judge or rate others as compared to other people in the same group—that is, to others of the same race or gender, etc., as the person being judged. The person is evaluated based on stereotypes or beliefs about the group, and therefore can be judged quite...