Gender Role Conflict, Job Characteristics, and Psychosocial Health: The Case of Male Employees in Female-dominated Occupations

This multi source study investigated advantageous and disadvantageous influences on psychosocial well-being of men in female-dominated occupations. 1. Does working in a female occupation lead to a shift towards a more feminine or masculine gender role self concept? 2. What predicts male gender role conflict? Koberg and Chusmir (1991) defined Gender Role Conflict as inconsistencies between men`s gender role self concept and gendered societal expectations (here expectations of men's female colleagues). We expect higher Gender Role Conflict especially for men who: describe themselves as masculine and are expected to fulfill feminine tasks. describe themselves as feminine and are expected to fulfill masculine tasks. We expect job control to prevent Gender Role Conflict, because men with high job control can choose work tasks and ways to goal attainment, which don`t interfere with their Gender Role Self Concept. 3. What predicts psychosocial well-being for men in female-dominated occupations? Empirical findings (Whitley, 1984) point to the fact, that Masculinity is positively related to psychosocial well-being. Femininity is also related to psychosocial well-being, but findings are inconsistent. We expect that especially for men in female-dominated occupations, masculinity and femininity both will be resources for well-being. Men with a masculine and feminine gender role self concept (androgynous) will be able to adapt to this inconsistent context best