Masculinity, Femininity, and Androgyny. What Really Works at Work.
Abstract
To investigate the relative adaptiveness of masculinity, femininity, and androgyny in the workplace, 63 Navy personnel detailers were asked to rate the success, adjustment, and attainment they predicted for six hypothetical Navy recruits, including feminine, masculine, and androgynous recruits of each sex. 449 other Navy personnel were asked, depending on their supervisory or nonsupervisory status, to indicate the extent to which they would like to supervise or work with each recruit. It was found that the masculine personality received significantly higher ratings than the feminine personality on the variables of success, attainment, and supervisory preference. However, when compared to the androgynous personality, the masculine personality received a significantly lower rating on coworker preference, and did not differ significantly on any of the other variables. The major sex difference was seen among nonsupervisors, who preferred male to female coworkers. It is concluded that a strictly female personality is not adaptive in the workplace, but that the combination of selected masculine and feminine traits in the androgynous personality is slightly superior to the highly masculine personality. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1978
- Accession Number
- ADA061177
Entities
People
- J. David Johnson
- Kirsten Hinsdale