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Group Processes & Intergroup Relations, Vol. 9, No. 4,
509-532 (2006)
DOI: 10.1177/1368430206067558
© 2006 SAGE Publications
Tokens in the Tower: Perceptual Processes and Interaction Dynamics in Academic Settings with Skewed, Tilted and Balanced Sex Ratios
Miles Hewstone
Oxford University, miles.hewstone{at}psy.ox.ac.uk
Richard J. Crisp
University of Birmingham
Alberta Contarello
Università degli Studi di Padova
Alberto Voci
Università degli Studi di Padova
Laura Conway
Cardiff University
Giorgia Marletta
Università degli Studi di Padova
Hazel Willis
University of Gloucestershire
We tested Kanters (1977a, 1977b) theory concerning the effects of group proportions (sex ratios) on visibility, polarization and assimilation, using natural groups of women and men in academia. Study 1 compared male-skewed and male-tilted settings and found evidence of greater polarization by minority women than majority men. The only effect of group proportions occurred for perceived dispersion as a measure of assimilation; replicating Brown and Smith (1989), men showed an out-group (OH), and women an in-group (IH), homogeneity effect, and both effects were accentuated in the skewed setting. Study 2 extended the research to include male-skewed, male-tilted, balanced and female-tilted sex ratios. Mens OH effect declined as relative out-group size increased, and womens IH effect declined as relative in-group size increased. There was also a linear decrease in relative perceived in-group impact and status as actual relative in-group size declined. We discuss our findings with respect to the validity of Kanters theory, gender and group size as moderators of perceived variability, and methodological issues in studying diversity.
Key Words: gender group size in-group homogeneity out-group homogeneity perceived variability sex ratios tokenism
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