Sexualization is a form of socialization that involves the creation of sexually suggestive behaviors, thoughts, and attitudes. It can be verbalized through spoken language or implied nonverbally through dress, body language, gestures, and actions. Sexualization occurs when people make assumptions about others based on their gender or physical appearance. These assumptions are often made without conscious thought, but they impact how people interact with one another. One way this happens is through the creation of expectations. When people assume that others will behave in certain ways because of their gender or appearance, it creates an expectation that must be met for trust to exist between them. This expectation can also shape fairness and reciprocity within collaborative structures because it can lead to unequal treatment if some people feel entitled to special favors due to their perceived status as sexual objects.
Expectations create boundaries between individuals which shape how they interact with each other.
If someone believes they have been promised something from another person because of their gender or appearance, they may feel entitled to receive that thing even if it was never explicitly stated. If these assumptions are left unchecked, it can lead to feelings of entitlement and resentment towards those who do not meet these expectations. This can have far-reaching consequences beyond just interpersonal relationships; employees who feel unfairly treated by their employers due to gender or appearance can develop negative perceptions about their company's culture and values. In addition to shaping interactions between individuals, sexualized expectations can also affect group dynamics by creating divisions within teams and departments.
Sexualized expectations can also impact fairness and reciprocity within a team setting. Team members may feel pressured to act out certain roles assigned to them based on their gender or physical attractiveness instead of focusing on what would benefit the team as a whole. They may also experience pressure to adhere to certain standards of behavior to avoid being labeled as "unprofessional" or "unapproachable." These behaviors can undermine productivity and morale over time. It's important for leaders in organizations to recognize this phenomenon so that they can work toward addressing it in order to create healthy collaborative structures that value all team members equally regardless of their identity.
Sexualized expectations can significantly shape trust, fairness, and reciprocity within collaborative structures when left unchecked. Leaders should be aware of how these expectations manifest in their organization so that they can make sure everyone feels valued and respected while still meeting deadlines and goals.
In what ways do sexualized expectations—verbalized or implicit—reshape employees' internal models of trust, fairness, and reciprocity within collaborative structures?
In recent years, increasing attention has been paid to how subtle gendered signals shape employees' experiences of trust, fairness, and reciprocity in the workplace. When managers make sexualized comments about employees in professional settings, they create an environment where women may feel objectified and devalued, which can lead to decreased performance and increased stress (Wood & Eagly, 2018).