Date of Award

2013

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Cottrell, Catherine

Keywords

Gender Stereotypes, Ambiguity, Facial Attractiveness, Workplace Discrimination

Area of Concentration

Psychology

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to investigate whether ambiguity in performance evaluations and facial attractiveness promote stereotype-based expectations, detrimentally affecting evaluations of women who are successful members of a team working in a traditionally male arena. Participants (32 male, 61 female, 14 unknown) were randomly assigned to one of six conditions varying in female facial attractiveness (low, moderate, high) and performance information provided (ambiguous, non-ambiguous). Participants then read descriptions of a mixed-sex dyad's work and were asked to evaluate its female and male members. Results indicated that unless the ambiguity about individual contribution to the dyad's successful joint outcome was constrained by providing feedback about individual team member performance, more attractive female members were perceived to be more feminine and less competent than their less attractive counterparts. Additionally, more attractive female members were rated as more likeable regardless of performance information provided.

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