Sexualization refers to the act of making something sexual or erotic. This process involves transforming an object into one that can be perceived as having sexually suggestive qualities. Sexualization plays a significant role in employee's behavior during conflicts because it affects their perception of each other, which eventually leads to different methods of managing conflicts. When individuals engage in sexual activities, they tend to experience feelings like anger, fear, joy, frustration, jealousy, resentment, and anxiety. These emotions are often associated with conflict management strategies that involve physical violence, verbal abuse, power struggles, and manipulation tactics.
When a boss is romantically involved with his/her subordinate, they may view each other differently due to the sexual attraction between them. In such cases, the boss might show favoritism towards the subordinate, while other employees feel left out and neglected. The affected workers then try to find ways to express their dissatisfaction through various means, including passive aggression, silent treatment, or even confrontation. Such actions may lead to a hostile work environment where the focus shifts from productivity to personal matters.
Some workers who do not have a sexual relationship with their colleagues may still use intimate behaviors to gain advantage.
Some employees flirt or manipulate others by using sex-related words or gestures. In turn, this creates an unhealthy working environment characterized by gossips, rumors, and sexual harassment claims. Some employees may also retaliate by spreading lies about one another, making insinuations, or undermining efforts of fellow co-workers.
The bottom line is that sexualization influences how people perceive each other during conflicts. As such, it is crucial for managers to create policies that promote healthy relationships among workers. This can be achieved by setting up clear boundaries on acceptable behavior in the workplace.
Managers should educate their staff on conflict management strategies that are suitable for different situations.
How does sexualized perception influence conflict management strategies among employees?
Sexualized perception can affect an employee's approach to conflict management because it creates a tendency towards interpersonal competition, which may lead to more aggressive and less cooperative behavior in resolving disagreements. This can result in higher levels of stress and anxiety during conflicts, as well as increased chances of miscommunication and misunderstanding between coworkers.