Stereotype threat experience and its influence on the gender leadership gap in Ireland.

Iwanicka, Olga (2020) Stereotype threat experience and its influence on the gender leadership gap in Ireland. Masters thesis, Dublin, National College of Ireland.

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Abstract

Purpose:
The purpose of this study is to discover if stereotype threat is one of the main reasons causing the gender leadership gap in Ireland. In this study, the author will also analyse how gender identification and consciousness about the stereotype influence stereotype threat experience and women’s career choices.

Approach / Design / Methodology:
A quantitative study was applied in this research to provide information from a big group of respondents (63 females, 27 males). The author constructed a questionnaire (with separate questions for males and females) for better understanding of the sex differences according to the research questions proposed. Data were analysed using The Kendall Tau-b analysis, as well as the Mann Whitney U test.

Findings:
Key findings of this study suggest that stereotype threat has a strong influence on stereotype threat experience in Ireland. All four hypotheses suggested by the author after the Kendall Taub test has been accepted. Illustratively this study finds that:
1. Gender identification has a statistically strong influence on stereotype threat experience.
2. Stereotype threat has a strong influence on women career choices.
3. Women career choices influence the gender leadership gap.
4. Stereotype threat has a strong influence on the gender leadership gap.

Practical implications:
This research shows that the gender leadership gap has its cause, way before women start their career. Women who strongly identify with their gender are more likely to experience stereotype threat, and because of that, they will make different career choices compared to if they would not experience stereotype threat. This study offers important implications for the relevant authorities to create mechanisms to prevent women from experiencing stereotype threat in work and at the same time allow them to freely decide about their future careers.

Originality / Value:
In the last few years, there has been an increased interest in the study of stereotype threat, and in particular on its implications on the gap in gender leadership. Unfortunately, despite the quickly growing economy in Ireland, very little research has been done on the influence of stereotype threat on the gap in gender leadership. This study can be valuable in the context of stereotype threat counteracting and increasing equality between men and women in Ireland.

Keywords:
Stereotype threat, gender leadership gap, gender stereotype, gender identification

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters)
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD28 Management. Industrial Management > Human Resource Management > Equal Opportunity in Employment H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD28 Management. Industrial Management > Human Resource Management H Social Sciences > HM Sociology > Leadership H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD28 Management. Industrial Management > Human Resource Management > Leadership
Divisions:	School of Business > Master of Arts in Human Resource Management
Depositing User:	Dan English
Date Deposited:	01 Feb 2021 16:15
Last Modified:	01 Feb 2021 16:15
URI:	https://norma.ncirl.ie/id/eprint/4602

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