Article Discussion: Option 1

Question 1

Question 1 (a) 
Define stereotype threat and provide an example in relation to gender and leadership roles within organisations

Answer 1

A:
- Stereotype threat is the real-time threat of being judged and treated poorly in settings where a negative stereotype about one’s group applies.

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Question 2

Question 1 (b) 
Discuss two (2) buffering reactions that may moderate
stereotype threat. Provide a specific example of each
buffering reaction that you discuss.

Answer 2

A:

1) Number and explicitness of stereotype cues
- Responses to stereotype threat depend, in part, upon the explicitness of the activation of the stereotype. it has been shown that implicit stereotype activation results in women fulfilling negative stereotypes regarding their underperformance relative to men, whereas explicit activation prompts reactance responses. Women demonstate reactance responses to individual sterotype threats but when threats are combined, it resulted in negative vulnerability responses.

(2) Role models
- female role models can protect woman from threats to their identity in leadership roles. Role models can demonstrate that success in the stereotyped domain is attainable. They can also increase a sense of social belonging and help prevent threats to sense of self against identity threats

Question 3

Question 1 (c) 
List and explain three (3) negative effects of gender
stereotype threat that can affect women who might want to become leaders.

Answer 3

A:
1) Disengagement from a domain

2) actively engaging in counter-stereotypical behavior
3) Decrease in performance

Question 4

Question 1 (d) 
Explain what organisations could do to reduce stereotype threat in the workplace.

Answer 4

A:

• 3 step approach
  1) Undertake organisational audits to examine gendered practices

2) identify methods of tracking the efficacy of interventions
3) implement interventions to curb the bias
- making employees, and senior leaders in particular, aware of unconscious biases and unwarranted stereotypes that affect their evaluations of others