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Abstract:
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This study investigated stereotype threat of women in petroleum engineering , a traditionally male -dominated industry . There were two main purposes to understanding communicative aspects of stereotype threat : 1 ) the creation of a typology of stereotype threats received and 2 ) the elaboration of coping strategies used to mitigate threats . This research examined contextual factors that influence women’s coping , including socialization , psychological inoculations , and memorable messages . This work is a contribution to communication research as it examines these components through the lens of scripts , which considers stereotype threat from a new perspective that suggests people are active participants in mitigating threats .
To complete this study , I performed 61 in -depth , semi -structured interviews with current or former female petroleum engineers . Through constant comparison (Glaser & Strauss , 1967 ) I analyzed the data and produced an initial set of 13 different stereotype threats and 11 distinct coping strategies . Upon further comparison , the threats and coping strategies were each consolidated further to five core categories . This typology aligns threats on a spectrum that runs from passive actions to overt actions , and threats closely adhere to the underperformance benchmarks of previous stereotype threat research (Aronson & McGlone , 2009 ) . The coping strategies address specific actions women take to mitigate threats , and the strategies align with the long -term responses to stereotype threat proposed by Block , Koch , Liberman , Merriweather , and Roberson (2011 ) . In addition , the coping strategies execute problem - and emotion -based coping (Folkman and Lazarus , 1980 ) . A distinctive feature of coping is dualistic subversions , which is when women use a subverted stereotype threat to mitigate it . Finally , this study suggests that stereotype threats and coping strategies result from childhood socialization practices , a process that writes scripts workers rely upon throughout their careers . This study is a contribution to organizational communication in how it examines ways messages are communicated in male -dominated careers and how women can use communication to mitigate negative expectations that arise in those environments . In addition , it looks at communication events that encourage women to enter male -dominated careers . Finally , it adds to communication theory because it uncovers additional ways that people use scripts to mitigate stereotyping . |