Sexualization has become a significant part of modern societies and can be seen everywhere. Advertising is filled with sexual messages that promote products and services, movies and television shows often depict romantic scenes between attractive people, and even workplaces may have sexual tones. This type of environment influences employees' behaviors and attitudes toward others, which leads to inequitable treatment based on gender, race, ethnicity, or social status. Moreover, sexualized cultures create an unsafe environment for employees who feel uncomfortable due to their beliefs or values regarding sexuality. The current study examines how this phenomenon affects workers' perceptions of fairness, inclusion, and psychological safety.
In the following sections, we will explore the impact of a sexually charged culture on employees' sense of fairness, inclusion, and psychological safety. We will also discuss some examples from real life to illustrate these effects.
We will offer suggestions for creating a more inclusive and equitable workplace atmosphere free from sexual harassment.
Impact on Fairness Perceptions
A sexually charged culture creates an uneven playing field where men are given more privileges than women because they are seen as superior beings in terms of strength, intelligence, and leadership abilities.
When a man takes charge during meetings, he gains respect and recognition but if a woman does so, she could be viewed negatively and not taken seriously.
A survey conducted by the Pew Research Center found that 53% of Americans believe that men make better leaders than women (Pew Research Center, 2019). Another example is when male colleagues get higher salaries despite having similar skills as female counterparts since they are perceived as deserving it more. These differences lead to feelings of unfairness among employees who do not conform to such stereotypes.
Impact on Inclusion Perceptions
A sexualized culture can exclude people based on gender, race, ethnicity, social status, age, body type, or sexual orientation. A white heterosexual cisgender man is more likely to feel included in this type of environment while someone from another background may feel excluded and discriminated against. This leads to lower self-esteem, anxiety, stress, and depression (Ross & Nadelhoffer, 2014; Hosseinzadeh et al., 2017).
LGBTQ+ individuals may experience discrimination at work due to their sexual orientation, which affects job satisfaction and productivity (Meadows et al., 2021).
Some studies have shown that minorities are less likely to speak up about issues related to fair treatment because they fear retaliation (Chiang et al., 2020). All these factors contribute to an unsafe psychological climate for everyone involved.
Impact on Psychological Safety
When employees do not feel safe speaking up about their needs or concerns, the workplace becomes an unhealthy environment where abuse and harassment thrive. A sexually charged culture creates tension between coworkers, leading them to avoid each other or engage in hostile interactions.
It makes employees feel vulnerable since they are constantly judged based on their appearance rather than skills or performance.
If a woman wears revealing clothing, she might be subjected to unwanted advances by male colleagues who view her as a sexual object instead of a professional peer. This results in low morale and reduced motivation (Laukkonen et al., 2019).
Suggestions for Creating Equality
Employees can create more equitable environments by promoting open communication, fostering inclusivity through diversity training programs, and enforcing policies against harassment. Organizations should set clear expectations regarding acceptable behavior regarding gender, race, ethnicity, social status, age, body type, or sexual orientation (Ross & Nadelhoffer, 2014; Hosseinzadeh et al., 2017). They must also provide opportunities for all employees to participate in decision-making processes regardless of background (Chiang et al., 2020). Moreover, managers need to model positive behaviors that encourage respect, empathy, and support among team members (Meadows et al., 2021).
Leaders must recognize the importance of psychological safety to promote employee well-being (Laukkonen et al., 2019).
A sexually charged culture creates an unsafe work environment where employees do not feel valued or respected. It impacts fairness perceptions since men receive more privileges than women, inclusion perceptions since certain groups are excluded based on their identities, and psychological safety since people feel vulnerable due to constant judgments about appearance rather than skills or performance. To overcome these challenges, employers can foster open communication, enforce policies against harassment, promote inclusivity through diversity training, provide equal opportunities, and model positive behaviors. This will create a healthier environment where all employees feel included and valued, leading to better job satisfaction and productivity.
How does sexualized culture shape employees' sense of fairness, inclusion, and psychological safety?
Sexualized culture shapes employees' sense of fairness, inclusion, and psychological safety in various ways. Firstly, it can create a feeling of unequal treatment for those who do not conform to sexualized standards, leading to a lack of trust in the organization and a perception that favoritism is at play.