The unintended consequences of equal opportunity programs: Women’s negative attitudinal and emotional reactions towards programs designed to help them

Pettegree, Alice (2011). The unintended consequences of equal opportunity programs: Women’s negative attitudinal and emotional reactions towards programs designed to help them Honours Thesis, School of Psychology, The University of Queensland.

       
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Author Pettegree, Alice
Thesis Title The unintended consequences of equal opportunity programs: Women’s negative attitudinal and emotional reactions towards programs designed to help them
School, Centre or Institute School of Psychology
Institution The University of Queensland
Publication date 2011-10-10
Thesis type Honours Thesis
Supervisor Dr Courtney von Hippel
Total pages 99
Language eng
Subjects 1701 Psychology
Abstract/Summary The aim of the current study was to investigate employed women’s emotional and attitudinal responses towards Equal Opportunity Programs. Participants were 189 working women who responded to an online survey. Participants were randomly allocated to one of two Equal Opportunity Programs (one was specifically for women and one was gender neutral). Participants completed measures on their emotional and attitudinal reactions towards the program presented. Participants additionally completed measures on feelings of stereotype threat and domain identification. It was hypothesised that women presented with the gender salient Equal Opportunity Program would display more negative emotions and attitudes towards the program, then women presented with the gender neutral Equal Opportunity Program. Specifically, it was predicated that women presented with the gender salient program would display stronger feelings of stereotype threat, be more likely to avoid and undermine the program, as well as perceive the outcomes of the program as less beneficial, compared to those presented with the gender neutral program. Additionally, stereotype threat was thought to mediate the relationship between the program presented and women’s attitudes towards the program. Finally it was thought that highly domain identified participants would be more susceptible to feelings of stereotype threat in the gender salient condition, than those with low identification. Consistent with predications, women presented with the gender salient Equal Opportunity Program reported more negative emotional and attitudinal responses towards the program, than women presented with the gender neutral program. However, contrary to predictions no difference was found between the conditions for feelings of stereotype threat or intentions to avoid the program. In addition, stereotype threat was not found to be a mediator, nor was domain identification found to be a moderator. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed, along with suggestions for future research.
Keyword Equal opportunity programs
Women's emotional and attitudinal responses
Unintended consequences

 
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Created: Tue, 26 Jun 2012, 10:38:28 EST by Mrs Ann Lee on behalf of School of Psychology