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Experiences of Subtle Sexism Among Women Employees in the National Park Service Walden University ScholarWorks Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection 2019 Experiences of Subtle Sexism Among Women Employees in the National Park Service Audrey Marie Ashcraft Walden University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations Part of the Organizational Behavior and Theory Commons, Psychology Commons, and the Women's Studies Commons This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection at ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Walden University College of Social and Behavioral Sciences This is to certify that the doctoral dissertation by Audrey Ashcraft has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made. Review Committee Dr. Elizabeth Clark, Committee Chairperson, Psychology Faculty Dr. Linda Talley, Committee Member, Psychology Faculty Dr. Marlon Sukal, University Reviewer, Psychology Faculty The Office of the Provost Walden University 2019 Abstract Experiences of Subtle Sexism Among Women Employees in the National Park Service by Audrey Ashcraft MS, Walden University, 2016 BS, Texas A&M University, 1993 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy I-O Psychology Walden University November 2019 Abstract Although blatant sexism persists in the workplace, there is a subtler type of sexism that is not often discussed. Some of the harmful outcomes that concern organization employees and leaders include decreased job satisfaction and morale, increased stress and turnover, damaged workplace relationships, barriers to career development for women, and decreased feelings of safety in law enforcement employees. Subtle sexism is often disguised as friendliness or chivalry, and therefore is difficult to detect, so it is often ignored or trivialized. The harms are cumulative and compound over time. The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological study was to gather data about how women experience subtle forms of sexism in the National Park Service (NPS) workplace. Semistructured telephone interviews assisted with the gathering of data from 12 women employed by the NPS. Feminist theory and critical theory guided the research process. Moustakas’s phenomenological method was used as an approach to data analysis. The findings that emerged included: (a) impacts on workplace culture, (b) harmful effects on individuals, (c) coping with subtle sexism, (d) organizational impacts, and (e) organizational change. The study promotes positive social change by providing a more nuanced understanding of how women experience and perceive subtle sexism. The results could help organizations to find more effective ways of dealing with this type of sexist behavior and decrease the negative outcomes. Experiences of Subtle Sexism Among Women Employees in the National Park Service by Audrey Ashcraft MS, Walden University, 2016 BS, Texas A&M University, 1993 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy I-O Psychology Walden University November 2019 Table of Contents List of Tables .................................................................................................................... vii Chapter 1: Introduction to the Study ....................................................................................1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................1 Background ....................................................................................................................1 Problem Statement .........................................................................................................5 Purpose of the Study ......................................................................................................6 Research Questions ........................................................................................................7 Conceptual Framework ..................................................................................................7 Nature of the Study ........................................................................................................9 Definitions....................................................................................................................10 Assumptions .................................................................................................................11 Scope and Delimitations ..............................................................................................11 Limitations ...................................................................................................................13 Significance..................................................................................................................14 Summary ......................................................................................................................15 Chapter 2: Literature Review .............................................................................................17 Introduction ..................................................................................................................17 Literature Search Strategy............................................................................................18 Conceptual Framework ................................................................................................20 Feminist Theory .................................................................................................... 20 i Critical Theory ...................................................................................................... 22 Factors that Led to the Rise of Subtle Sexism .............................................................24 The Rise of Subtle Sexism ...........................................................................................27 Types of Subtle Sexism ...............................................................................................28 Benevolent Sexism................................................................................................ 29 Gender Stereotypes ............................................................................................... 31 Other Forms of Subtle Sexism .............................................................................. 32 Detection of Sexism .....................................................................................................34 Perceptions of Sexism ..................................................................................................36 Gender Differences in Perception ......................................................................... 37 Effect of Relationships on Perception................................................................... 37 Levels of Severity ................................................................................................. 38 Appearance of Benevolence ................................................................................. 39 Opposing Perspectives .......................................................................................... 40 Prior Experience and Workplace Policies............................................................. 40 Theories Related to Perceptions............................................................................ 41 Bystander Perceptions ........................................................................................... 42 Antecedents of Sexism .................................................................................................43 Negative Outcomes ......................................................................................................46 Difficulties of Recognizing Harm ......................................................................... 47 Health and Wellbeing ........................................................................................... 47 ii Performance .......................................................................................................... 49 Intent to Leave the Organization ........................................................................... 51 Effects on Career Development ............................................................................ 51 Harms when Sexism is Subtle............................................................................... 55 Negative Outcomes for Bystanders ...................................................................... 56 Organizational Harm ............................................................................................. 57 Reactions to and Reporting Sexism .............................................................................57 Awareness ....................................................................................................................60 Empathy and Perspective Taking .................................................................................62 Workplace Policies ......................................................................................................65 Suggestions for Interventions ......................................................................................69
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