In organizations, there is always competition for resources such as money, power, and recognition. This leads to situations where people are evaluated based on their performance and contributions.
Research has shown that sexualized interactions can significantly impact how people perceive fairness, merit, and justice in organizational processes. Sexualized interactions refer to behaviors like flirting, touching, or making suggestive comments that are related to sex or sexual attraction. These interactions can create unequal power dynamics between individuals who engage in them, which can lead to unfair treatment of those without access to these interactions.
One study found that women who engaged in sexualized interactions were more likely to be seen as less competent than men who did the same thing. The researchers suggested that this was due to the fact that women's participation in sexualized interactions was often viewed as an attempt to gain favor or advance themselves professionally rather than based on their actual abilities. This perception led to a lower level of respect for their work and reduced their chances of being considered for promotions or important projects.
Another study found that when supervisors had sexual relationships with their employees, they tended to give preferential treatment to those employees in areas like compensation and job assignments. This created a sense of unfairness among other employees, who felt that they were not being given the same opportunities as their coworkers. It also damaged trust within the organization and made it harder for everyone to focus on their work.
Sexualized interactions can create an environment where there is little transparency and accountability. When leaders use sexualized interactions to manipulate others into doing what they want, it undermines the entire organization's ability to function effectively. People may become hesitant to speak up about problems or offer constructive feedback because they fear retaliation from their superiors. This leads to a lack of communication and collaboration, which further harms the organization's productivity.
To address these issues, organizations must take steps to create a culture of fairness and justice. They should make it clear that sexualized interactions are unacceptable and have consequences, such as disciplinary action. They should also ensure that all employees have equal access to resources and opportunities regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, or other factors. By creating a more equitable workplace, organizations will be able to attract and retain top talent while maintaining high levels of performance and productivity.
How do sexualized interactions affect perceptions of fairness, merit, and justice in organizational processes?
Researchers have found that the degree of perceived sexualization impacts the perception of fairness, merit, and justice in organizational processes (Ashraf et al. , 2017). In other words, when employees believe that their managers are treating them unfairly because they belong to a particular gender, they tend to view these actions as less justified than if no gendered context is involved.