Abstract
This study longitudinally investigated correlates of perceived gender discrimination in a female-dominated occupation, medical technology. The sample consisted of 303 female and 101 male medical technologists (MTs), of whom 97% had a baccalaureate degree and 3% possessed a graduate-level degree. Descriptive results showed, surprisingly that female MTs perceived higher gender discrimination than male MTs. Significant gender differences in perceived antecedent–gender discrimination correlations were found. Female MTs with lower perceived extrinsic job satisfaction and organizational support were more likely to perceive greater gender discrimination than male MTs. These results suggest that perceived gender discrimination extends beyond occupational groupings and is a more widely perceived phenomenon.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
Auster, E. (1989). Task characteristics as a bridge between macro-and microlevel research on salary inequality between men and women. Academy ofManagement Review, 14, 173–193.
Beck, R., Horan, P., & Tolbert, C. (1978). Stratification in a dual economy: A sectoral model of earnings determination. American Sociological Review, 43, 704–720.
Beller, A. (1985). changes in the sex composition of U.S. occupations, 1960- 1981. Journal of Human Resources, 20, 235–249.
Bielby, W., & Baron, J. (1986). Men and women at work: Sex segregation and statistical discrimination. American Journal of Sociology, 91, 759–799.
Blau, G. (1999). Testing the longitudinal impact of work variables and performance appraisal satisfaction on subsequent overall job satisfaction. Human Relations, 52, 1099–1113.
Blau, G., & Ryan, J. (1997). On measuring work ethic: A neglected work commitment facet. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 51, 435–448.
Blum, T., Fields, D., & Goodman, J. (1994). Organization-level determinants of women in management. Academy of Management Journal, 37, 241–268.
Burtt, K. (1998). Male nurses still face bias. American Journal of Nursing, 98, 64–65.
Carlson, M. (1994, December 12). Female chauvinist pigs? Time, 144, 62–63.
Cohen, J., & Cohen, P. (1975). Applied multiple regression/correlation analysis for the behavioral sciences. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
Crocker, J., & Major, B. (1989). Social stigma and self-esteem: The self-protective properties of stigma. Psychological Review, 96, 608–630.
Crocker, J., & McGraw, K. (1984). What's good for the goose is not good for the gander: Solo status as an obstacle for occupational achievement for males and females. American Behavioral Scientist, 27, 357–369.
Crocker, J., Voelkl, K., Testa, M., & Major, B. (1991). Social stigma: The affective consequences of attributional ambiguity. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 60, 218–228.
Crosby, F. (1982). Relative deprivation and working women. New York: Oxford University Press.
Darity, W., & Mason, P. (1998). Evidence on discrimination in employment: Codes of color, codes of gender. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 12(2), 63–90.
Eisenberger, R., Huntington, R., Hutchison, S., & Sowa, D. (1986). Perceived organizational support. Journal of Applied Psychology, 71, 500–507.
Floge, L., & Merrill, D. (1986). Tokenism reconsidered: Male nurses and female doctors in a hospital setting. Social Forces, 64, 925–947.
Furnham, A. (1990). The Protestant work ethic: The psychology of work related beliefs and behaviours. London: Rutledge.
Gattiker, U., & Cohen, A. (1997). Gender-based wage differences: The effects of occupation and job segregation in Israel. Industrial Relations, 52, 507–530.
Hampton, M., & Heywood, J. (1993). Do workers accurately perceive gender wage discrimination? Industrial and Labor Relations Review, 47, 36–49.
Harmening, D., & Lunz, M. (1996). Increasing diversity in the workplace. Laboratory Medicine, 27, 25–27.
Heilman, M. (1983). Sex bias in work settings: The lack of fit model. B. Staw & L. Cummings (Eds.), Research in organizational behavior (Vol. 5, pp. 269–298). Greenwich, CT: JAI Press.
Hitt, M., & Barr, S. (1989). Managerial selection decision models: Examination of configural cue processing. Journal of Applied Psychology, 74, 53–61.
Kanter, R. (1977). Men and women of the corporation. New York: Basic Books.
Kirchmeyer, C. (1998). Determinants of managerial career success: Evidence and explanation of male/female differences. Journal of Management, 24, 673–692.
Kobrynowicz, D., & Branscombe, N. (1997). Who considers themselves victims of discrimination? Individual difference predictors of perceived gender discrimination in women and men. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 21, 347–363.
Konrad, A., & Cannings, K. (1997). The effects of gender role congruence and statistical discrimination on managerial advancement. Human Relations, 50, 1305–1328.
Konrad, A., Ritchie, J., Lieb, P., & Corrigall, L. (in press). Sex differences and similarities in job attribute preferences: A meta analysis. Psychological Bulletin.
Lee, C. (1985). Increasing performance appraisal effectiveness: Matching task types, appraisal process and rater training. Academy of Management Review, 10, 322–331.
Lobel, S., & St. Clair, L. (1992). Effects of family responsibilities, gender and career identity salience on performance outcomes. Academy of Management Journal, 35, 1057–1069.
Lowry, T. (1998, September 3). Another Wall Street firm faces sex harassment charges. USA Today, Section B, p. 1.
Lyness, K., & Judiesch, M. (1999). Are women more likely to be hired or promoted into management positions? Journal of Vocational Behavior, 54, 158–173.
Major, B., & Konar, E. (1984). An investigation of sex differences in pay expectations and their possible causes. Academy of Management Journal, 27, 777–792.
McNemar, Q. (1969). Psychological Statistics. New York: Wiley.
Michaels, C., & Spector, P. (1982). Causes of employee turnover: A test of the Mobley, Griffeth, Hand and Meglino model. Journal of Applied Psychology, 67, 53–59.
Mobley, W., Griffeth, R., Hand, H., & Meglino, B. (1979). Review and conceptual analysis of the employee turnover process. Psychological Bulletin, 86, 493–522.
Moore, H. (1985). Job satisfaction and women's spheres of work. Sex Roles, 13, 663–678.
Mottaz, C. (1986). Gender differences in work satisfaction, work-related rewards and values, and the determinants of work satisfaction, Human Relations, 39, 359–378.
Nunnally, J. (1978). Psychometric Theory. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Ragins, B., Townsend, B., & Mattis, M. (1998). Gender gap in the executive suite: CEOs and female executives report on breaking the glass ceiling. Academy ofManagement Executive, 12, 28–42.
Roth, P. (1994). Missing data: A conceptual review for applied psychologists. Personnel Psychology, 47, 537–560.
Rudmann, S., Lunz, M., & Summers, S. (1995). Entry-level technologists report job preparedness. Laboratory Medicine, 26, 717–719.
Ruggiero, K., & Taylor, M. (1995). Coping with discrimination: How disadvantaged group members perceive the discrimination that confronts them. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 68, 826–838.
Rusbult, C., Farrell, D., Rogers, G., & Mainous, A. (1988). Impact of exchange variables on exit, voice, loyalty and neglect: An integrative model of responses to declining job satisfaction. Academy of Management Journal, 31, 599–627.
Snizek, W., & Neil, C. (1992). Job characteristics, gender stereotypes and perceived gender. Organization Studies, 13, 403–415.
Spector, P. (1985). Measurement of human service staff satisfaction: Development of the Job Satisfaction Survey. American Journal of Community Psychology, 13, 693–713.
Stone, E. (1978). Research methods in organizational behavior. Glenview, IL: Scott, Foresman.
Stroh, L., Brett, J., & Reilly, A. (1992). All the right stuff: A comparison of female and male managers' career progression. Journal of Applied Psychology, 77, 251–260.
Taylor, D., Wright, S., Moghaddam, F., & Lalonde, R. (1990). The personal/group discrimination discrepancy: Perceiving my group, but not myself, to be a target of discrimination. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 16, 254–262.
Taylor, M., & Ilgen, D. (1981). Sex discrimination against women in initial placement decisions: A laboratory investigation. Academy of Management Journal, 24, 859–865.
Tharenou, P., Latimer, S., & Conroy, D. (1994). How do you make it to the top? An examination of influences on women's and men's managerial advancement. Academy of Management Journal, 37, 899–931.
Truman, G., & Baroudi, J. (1994). Gender differences in the information systems managerial ranks: An assessment of potential discriminatory practices. MIS Quarterly, 18, 129–140.
Wharton, A. (1994). Women's and men's responses to sex-segregated work. In M. Stevenson (Ed.), Gender roles through the life span (Chapter 8). Muncie, IN: Ball State University Press.
Wozencraft, A. (1999, February 26). About 900 women will join suit against Merrill Lynch. New York Times, Section C, p. 6.
Wright, P., Ferris, S., Hiller, J., & Kroll, M. (1995). Competitiveness through management of diversity: Effects on stock price valuation. Academy ofManagement Journal, 38, 272–287.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Blau, G., Tatum, D. Correlates of Perceived Gender Discrimination For Female Versus Male Medical Technologists. Sex Roles 43, 105–118 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007043813257
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007043813257