Perceptions of Subtle Sexism in the Higher Education Workplace

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 2
  In Roundtable Session: Navigating Institutional Contexts

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine how higher education administrators, faculty, and staff are able to identify subtle sexism, and indicate how they perceive it in the higher education workplace. Past research has also shown micro-aggressions lead to hostility and uncertainty. The design of this study does not allow for causal inference. This was a mixed methods study that included a survey and one-on-one interviews. There were a total of 232 participants and 12 one-on-one interviews. The majority of participants were heterosexual, white women. Three new measures of sexism were identified during data analysis: attitudes and behaviors of sexism and identifying cases of subtle sexism. Quantitative results indicated that women identified more instances of sexism than men.

Author

• Whitney Carroll, Temple University