Is it always this cold? Chilly interpersonal climates as a barrier to the well-being of early-career women faculty in STEM

Purpose The purpose of this project was to examine the extent to which early-career women faculty in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) experience working in a chilly interpersonal climate (as indicated by experiences of ostracism and incivility) and how those experiences relate to wor...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: An International Journal Diversity and Inclusion: An International Journal, 2019-03, Vol.38 (2), p.226-245
Main Authors: Miner, Kathi N, January, Samantha C, Dray, Kelly K, Carter-Sowell, Adrienne R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Careers
Colleagues
College faculty
Employees
Females
Gender differences
Males
Occupational choice
Ostracism
Psychological well being
Science and technology
Standard deviation
STEM education
Studies
Technology
Well being
Women
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Summary:Purpose The purpose of this project was to examine the extent to which early-career women faculty in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) experience working in a chilly interpersonal climate (as indicated by experiences of ostracism and incivility) and how those experiences relate to work and non-work well-being outcomes. Design/methodology/approach Data came from a sample of 96 early-career STEM faculty (Study 1) and a sample of 68 early-career women STEM faculty (Study 2). Both samples completed online surveys assessing their experiences of working in a chilly interpersonal climate and well-being. Findings In Study 1, early-career women STEM faculty reported greater experiences of ostracism and incivility and more negative occupational well-being outcomes associated with these experiences compared to early-career men STEM faculty. In Study 2, early-career women STEM faculty reported more ostracism and incivility from their male colleagues than from their female colleagues. Experiences of ostracism (and, to a lesser extent, incivility) from male colleagues also related to negative occupational and psychological well-being outcomes. Originality/value This paper documents that exposure to a chilly interpersonal climate in the form of ostracism and incivility is a potential explanation for the lack and withdrawal of junior women faculty in STEM academic fields.
ISSN:2040-7149
2040-7157
DOI:10.1108/EDI-07-2018-0127