Community college employee demographic variable effects on gender stereotype and role perception

Past research rooted in the theories of the social and cognitive construction of gender has observed a time-based trend of smaller differences between men and women with regard to gender role perception. Research further suggests that this progressive trend, a possible means of reducing costly gender discrimination lawsuits in the corporate sector, is a consequence of the novel events (i.e., dramatic changes in traditionally gendered roles and activities) of women's increased presence in the labor-force and in nontraditional careers. Using the total scores from the Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI), this predictive study employed a multiple regression to examine the effects of demographic variables on gender stereotypes and gender role perception among a diverse group of 105 male and female employees at a large Florida community college. The study also employed an ANOVA to analyze the total BSRI scores across genders and several age groups, and thus examined the possible effects of the relative scarcity of women moving into nontraditional careers. Of the variables examined, age and gender were found to contribute most significantly to gender role perception. The time-based progressive trend and effects of the relative lack of women moving into nontraditional careers were not observed. Other possible contributing variables and the limiting influences of a strong organizational culture are cited as probable contributing factors to the lack of support for fewer significant differences in gender role perception and the expected effects of the relative lack of women moving into nontraditional career fields. Social change implications of this study may include helping organizations realize that achieving payequity and eliminating costly gender-based discrimination in the workplace depends in large part upon their efforts in supporting and sustaining such progressive trends.