“Tighter worlds”: Gelfand and Choi on disparate gender treatment in the workplace

The wage gap isn’t the only way that women and people of color face discrimination in the workplace. Research demonstrates that the punishments they receive for infractions are more severe than the consequences for similar misdeeds committed by white men. Michele Gelfand, professor of cultural psychology, and Virginia Choi, doctoral student in social psychology, outline some relevant findings in this April 2019 Time essay.

Gelfand & Choi, “Women don’t just face a pay gap at work. They’re also punished far more than men”

1. Gelfand and Choi point out that women and minorities live in “tighter worlds,” while white men live in “looser worlds.” What do those terms mean? What are the larger effects of the disparity in consequences for “misdeeds”? What evidence do the authors provide to support their assertion? Is the evidence persuasive? Why or why not?
2. Whether in the workplace, at school, or elsewhere, you have almost certainly had at least one experience that fits Gelfand and Choi’s tighter/looser world frame. Relate an episode when the consequences of something you did were either much lighter or much heavier than the consequences for a similar act committed by a peer of a different gender or race/ethnicity. Were you aware of the disparity at the time? In retrospect (and assuming that you aren’t in favor of the disparity), what might you have done differently in the situation? What might others have done differently?
3. In the next-to-last paragraph, Gelfand and Choi pose a question and answer it with a simple “No.” The rhetorical strategy they use there might be described as a modified “planting a naysayer in your text,” as described in Chapter 6 of your text. How else might the authors have expressed the same meaning? Rewrite the passage, applying one of the other templates in the chapter. Which version do you prefer? Why?
4. In their discussion of a study they conducted asking research participants to evaluate hypothetical workplace infractions and made-up worker identities, Gelfand and Choi note that white male subjects recommended stricter punishments for black or female culprits and more lenient treatment for other white males, while the women participants recommended consistent punishments regardless of identity factors. In discussing the study done in the financial-adviser industry, Gelfand and Choi report that “male advisers with a past record of misconduct” were twice as likely to repeat their offenses than female advisers. Gelfand and Choi don’t use the report’s findings to suggest in any way that women make better management decisions and should be in charge wherever possible, but we have to ask: should companies and institutions enact policies to give more women more power? Why or why not? What might be the result of such an initiative in five or ten years? Write an essay addressing these questions, using Gelfand and Choi as your They Say.

Comments

[yahnease wilson]

2. once one of my friends that is a female wanted to play football for our high school and i immediately said "I'm pretty sure they only allow boys to play" and i was wrong. boys and girls can play football but its mainly boys because playing football doesn't fit the image of being a girl. if i had the chance i would change my ignorant comment to being more supportive because there shouldn't be limitations on what we want to do or be because of our gender.Someone shouldn't get made fun of or bashed for doing something anyone can do but only boys do.

[Mikayle Maullon]

1. Woman that were defined to live in a "tighter worlds" means that woman live in a society with more requirements about their appearance and attitude to suit the position which she desires. On the other hand, men in a “loose world” have less requirements to be the perfect employee for a specific job. The major difference between male and female occupations is that females that make “misdeeds” were most likely to be removed from their position. On the other hand, males who make “misdeeds” are most likely to be forgiven. The difference of consequences between male and female occupations has been asserted by Gelfand and Choi as they mentioned “Female advisers, despite being equally productive as their male peers on the job, were found to be 20% more likely than male advisers to get fired for engaging in any transgressions.”(Gelfand & Choi). I personally think that the evidence is persuasive enough to prove that women are mostly likely to get easily fired due to their gender because some occupations that have stereotypes that men work better can easily disregard the opportunities for female workers. Dealerships are a great example as I can tell that women working in financing are looked down upon because last month a female working in financing was fired because she wasn’t too good enough for the company. The company truly didn’t care because they already have a replacement ready for her. Thus, the evidence is persuassive enough for me to believe that women are easily punished compared to men because I can relate the punishment to an event that happened in my occuption.

[dmaddox]

All of the facts is here all the proof and evidence we need to address the issue with women and minorities getting treated differently because of race and gender. I personally agree this is unfair we should treated as equal human beings. we should have the same advantages as long as the experience is there to back you up. it will continue to be this way until we come as one to address the issue. it takes consistency to achieve change within; less pay and unequal rights isn't fair but when will we do something about it? together.

[RaeAnne Thomas]

When I was in high school I received a punishment for something, and the other person involved received nothing. I came forward about the situation to hopefully lessen my punishment. The other person involved was a white male. After everything was said and done I faced a small punishment while he faced nothing. This was very demeaning. They were not able to prove that he was guilty even though I know for a fact he was involved. He would not admit to being responsible therefore nothing happened to him. It was very insulting. Men need to face the same punishment as women.

[Nia James]

Gelfand and Choi point out that women and minorities live in “tighter worlds,” while white men live in “looser worlds.” What do those terms mean? What are the larger effects of the disparity in consequences for “misdeeds”? What evidence do the authors provide to support their assertion? Is the evidence persuasive? Why or why not?

The term "tighter worlds" refers to stricter regulation. The term "looser worlds" refers to a more loose regulation. A misdeed is a wicked or illegal act. When women do something we get a worse punishment then men. Simply because men are "suppose" to act that way and women are suppose to be soft and delicate. For woman we've always had the short end of the stick. We've always had to fight for the things that should already be given to us. In high school I would always get in trouble for voicing my opinion. But if a male in my class did then they would be praised for it. Woman have never been equal to men. It will never end.

[nasha Price]

Gelfand and Choi point out that women and minorities live in “tighter worlds,” while white men live in “looser worlds.” What do those terms mean? What are the larger effects of the disparity in consequences for “misdeeds”? What evidence do the authors provide to support their assertion? Is the evidence persuasive? Why or why not

Tighter worlds refers to a more sheltered walking on eggshells lifestyle while looser worlds defines as more of freedom lifestyle having the ability to do what you want without a negative response. The larger effects are demotion or a stained name, the authors definitely provided support with the recent study they experimented this. Offering detailed examples and real time studies are hopefully eye-opener that this kind of discrimination should be stopped and if everyone would stand up maybe there will be a change.

[Samantha Lowe]

At times I can be very oblivious to gender inequality because of how I was raised; Everyone is to be treated equally no matter their race, gender or preference. I know a lot of the rights women and black individuals have were fought for and not something that was easily given to us. Reading “Tighter worlds”: Gelfand and Choi, you are forced to look at the issues in the work place head on. In their poll the facts were given to you straight forward, people of color and women were forced to live in "Tighter worlds" where as white men seemed to get away with and given a lot more freedoms. This post is truly an eye opener for me to many issues that still go on today even if I feel like they do not affect me personally. In a way, I feel like they do because I truly believe that everyone should be treated equally and given the same opportunities as the next person.