How Gendered Values Interact With Principal Investigator Gender to Impact Doctoral Students’ Sense of Belonging

• In Event: Creating Inclusive Doctoral Programs: Best Practices and Innovations in Doctoral Student Socialization

Abstract

This study examined the effects of individualism-collectivism (I-C) value orientations and perceptions of vertical or horizontal preferred power hierarchies of Ph.D. students on their sense of belonging within their work environments. Overall, we found men valued individualistic structures with vertical power hierarchies based on competition, while women preferred collectivist structures with horizontal power hierarchies. However, individuals who either 1) valued competition and were more independent, or 2) valued interdependence and were more cooperative showed greater sense of belonging, independent of gender. These findings highlight the importance of person-environment fit for graduate students and point to the ways in which gendered norms can interact with context to affect students’ sense of belonging.

Authors

• Feng Zhang, Utah State University

• Kaylee Litson, University of Houston

• David F. Feldon, Utah State University

• Annie M. Wofford, Florida State University

• Jennifer M. Blaney, University of Georgia