Mindfulness and stereotype threat in social media

Unexpected effects for women’s leadership aspirations

Bibliographic Data

ID12920839
AuthorsMegan M Walsh (0000-0002-7247-0920, University of Saskatchewan, corresponding author), Erica Carleton (0000-0001-7607-7897, University of Regina), Amanda J Hancock (0000-0002-5370-5739, Memorial University of Newfoundland), Kara A Arnold (0000-0002-4237-7784, Memorial University of Newfoundland)
Year2022
Volume37
Issue4
Pages535-548
Publication date2022-02-12
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueGender in Management An International Journal (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1754-2413 • E-ISSN: 1754-2421
PublisherEmerald Publishing Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1108/gm-11-2020-0341
OpenAlexW4211086434
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited27

Purpose The purpose of this paper were to investigate whether gendered social media images reduce women’s leadership aspirations (via reduced leadership self-efficacy) and whether state mindfulness buffers the effect of stereotype threat on women’s leadership self-efficacy, and in turn, leadership aspirations. Design/methodology/approach Study 1 ( n = 53) was a pilot study designed to test materials intended to induce stereotype threat via social media. Study 2 ( n = 144) was an experimental study in which participants were randomly assigned to stereotype threat or control conditions. Stereotype threat was implicitly induced via a fictional Facebook timeline that incorporated gendered images. Findings Stereotype threat induced via social media predicted lower leadership aspirations for women, which was mediated by reduced leadership self-efficacy, as expected. State mindfulness moderated this mediated relationship in an unexpected way; stereotype threat effects on leadership self-efficacy and leadership aspirations were stronger for women higher in state mindfulness. Originality/value It is important to investigate stereotype threat induced via social media to understand the potential damage gendered images may have on women’s leadership aspirations in a modern advertising context. This research shows that indeed gendered images in social media advertising decrease women’s leadership self-efficacy and leadership aspirations. Interestingly, this study also found that mindfulness had a negative effect in relation to stereotype threat. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed

Mindfulness · Originality · Political science · Social media · Stereotype (UML · Stereotype threat · Clinical Psychology · Consumer Behavior in Brand Consumption and Identification · Job Satisfaction and Organizational Behavior · Media Influence and Health · Psychology · Social Psychology

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