Work as a Masculinity Contest

Abstract

We propose that a key reason why the workplace gender revolution has stalled (England, 2010) is that work remains the site of masculinity contests among men. In this article, we outline a theoretical framework for thinking about work as a masculinity contest, beginning with a brief review of scholarship on masculinity and exploring how the workplace is a context in which men feel particular pressure to prove themselves as “real men.” We identify different dimensions of masculinity along which employees may compete and how the competition may differ by work context. We propose that organizations with Masculinity Contest Cultures (MCCs) represent dysfunctional organizational climates (e.g., rife with toxic leadership, bullying, harassment) associated with poor individual outcomes for men as well as women (e.g., burnout, low organizational dedication, lower well‐being). We discuss how papers in this special issue contribute insight into MCCs and end with a discussion of the contributions made by conceptualizing work as a masculinity contest, and directions for future research.

Challenges and supports for women conservation leaders

“…ENDNOTES 1 Although it was not the focus of this study, it is worth noting that people of all genders can be negatively affected by narratives of masculinity and femininity in the workplace, such as in organizational cultures where men feel they must "prove" their manhood or when men are victims of workplace sexual harassment (e.g., Berdahl, Cooper, Glick, Livingston, & Williams, 2018). 2 Seven of the 63 interviews conducted did not meet the inclusion criteria and thus were excluded from analysis for the following reasons: interviewee was based outside the United States at time of interview (n = 2), was primarily based at an academic institution (n = 1), did not have a science background (n = 1) or leadership role (n = 2), or interview audio-recording quality was too poor for analysis (n = 1).…”

“…Although it was not the focus of this study, it is worth noting that people of all genders can be negatively affected by narratives of masculinity and femininity in the workplace, such as in organizational cultures where men feel they must “prove” their manhood or when men are victims of workplace sexual harassment (e.g., Berdahl, Cooper, Glick, Livingston, & Williams, ).…”

Development and Validation of the Masculinity Contest Culture Scale

“…We first review the masculinity contest construct (see Berdahl, Cooper, Glick, Livingston, & Williams, ). We then hypothesize masculinity contest norms’ potential causes (e.g., occupation, women's representation as leaders) and consequences (e.g., for organizational culture and leadership, negative workplace behaviors, individual work attitudes and personal well‐being).…”

Race, threat and workplace sexual harassment: The dynamics of harassment in the United States, 1997–2016

“…Such threats also lead men to overestimate their own height (Cheryan, Cameron, Katagiri, & Monin, 2015), hold negative attitudes about effeminate homosexual men (Glick, Gangl, Gibb, Klumpner, & Weinberg, 2007), think about physical aggression (Vandello, Bosson, Cohen, Burnaford, & Weaver, 2008), put more effort into a handgrip strength test (Funk & Werhun, 2011), become more supportive of war (Willer et al, 2013), spend less time on housework (Besen- Cassino & Cassino, 2014) and make more muscular virtual avatars for themselves (Lee-Won, Tang, & Kibbe, 2017). Workplace culture itself may be pervaded by a toxic gendered competition between men, what Berdahl, Cooper, Glick, Livingston, and Williams (2018) have labelled a 'Masculinity Contest Culture'. Weaver and Vescio (2015) subjected participants to a gender knowledge test, and gave them feedback indicating that they were relatively masculine or feminine.…”

“…Maass, Cadinu, Guarnieri, and Grasselli (2003) found that threats to men's dominance and gender identity led them to be more likely to sexually harass women in online forums, in their case, through the unwanted sharing of pornographic or suggestive images. Workplace culture itself may be pervaded by a toxic gendered competition between men, what Berdahl, Cooper, Glick, Livingston, and Williams (2018) have labelled a 'Masculinity Contest Culture'.…”