Stereotype threat and women’s work satisfaction: The importance of role models.

Abstract

This research examines the psychological benefits of different sources of workplace social support in a global sample of professional women leaders (N = 1,221). We explored whether and in what way(s) social support from different workplace sources (role models, formal and informal mentors/sponsors, supportive supervisors, and peer support) predicts women’s experience of stereotype threat—or concerns about confirming gender stereotypes—and subsequently their work satisfaction. We did this using cross-sectional data from a survey of international graduate business school alumnae who represented 72 countries, were mostly from Generation X (63.4% aged 35–54), reported directly to General Management or had more senior roles (64.1%), and described their work responsibilities as regional or global (66.4%). Workplace role models emerge as the only statistically reliable predictor of work satisfaction indirectly through reduced stereotype threat concerns. However, role models, informal (but not formal) mentors/sponsors, supportive supervisors, and peer support all directly predict women’s work satisfaction. Implications of the benefits of workplace social support for efforts to reduce work-related gender inequities are discussed.