Overview

• Discrimination of applicants based on their sexual orientation: An experimental research approach
• Voice stereotypes toward women and men differing in sexual orientations: A combination of production-oriented and perceptive approaches
• Media, democracy and citizens (MeDeCi): Fragmented media environments and their impact on political information processing and decisions
• Men who care: The internal route to men’s engagement in communal roles by the example of paternal leave

Discrimination of applicants based on their sexual orientation: An experimental research approach

Research proposal: During the first funding period it was the overarching aim of the project to understand if discrimination at work can be explained based on sexual orientation, by observing the matching between the perceived masculinity/femininity of professions and applicants. Here the “model of inadequate matching“ should be applied to the social category of sexual orientation. Based on the stereotype that gays and lesbians transgress traditional gender roles they should, other than heterosexuals, be looked at regarding both central dimensions of the stereotype content model. Concretely, it should be attributed more communion (community orientation, friendlyness) to gays than to heterosexual men. Conversely, it should be attributed more agency (task orientation, including professional expertise) to lesbians than to heterosexual women. To pursue this goal there were conducted 19 experiments overall. A large part of the results matched the hypotheses and was replicated repeatedly (e.g. to attribute community orientation to gays). By contrast, other results were unexpected and cannot be explained using existing models; in particular this was the case with results regarding intersections of identities (also labelled as non-prototypical identities, e.g. lesbians of Turkish origin in Germany). These were evaluated as especially positive in many of our experiments, deviating from exisitng stereotypes. The overarching aim of the second funding period consists in examining the processes which underly (positive and negative) discrimination based on intersections of different identity categories in work contexts. Results regarding intersections of identities should be used to revise and extend existing models. Concretely, we will examine under which conditions the assumption that applicants with non prototypical identities had experienced discrimination leads to positive judgements on them (goal 1). These activities should help also to explain the previous results. Goal 2 consists of developing extended research paradigms to test more general under which conditions non prototypical applicants are protected against discrimination and how this relates to qualities of the judging persons. The final goal is the integration of the results into an extended theoretical model (goal 3). 

Funded by: German Research Foundation

Principal investigator: Melanie C. Steffens

Staff: Claudia Niedlich, Sven Kachel, Elena Ball 

Duration: since 2014

Voice stereotypes toward women and men differing in sexual orientations: A combination of production-oriented and perceptive approaches

Research proposal: Voice stereotypes with regard to sexual orientations are widespread and are perpetuated for instance by representations in the media (e.g., gay lisp). Studies within the framework of production-oriented approaches examine the accuracy of voice stereotypes by focussing on acoustic differences between speakers. They attempt to answer the question whether and in which voice characteristics gay and straight men differ – less frequently these studies focus on women. So far, the evidence of these studies is inconsistent. In our own preliminary work we could show evidence for the importance of context factors. Aim 1 of the present research proposal is to clarify the inconsistent findings by examining systematically language related (e.g., topic of the text) and situational context factors (e.g.,  gender of the interlocutor) and relating these to characteristics of female and male speakers (e.g., self-ascribed masculinity/femininity). Studies within the framework of perceptive approaches examine the content of voice stereotypes by correlating listeners' sexual orientation ratings with speakers' vocal characteristics. To illuminate the as well inconsistent findings of these studies, aim 2 is to use an experimental design for the auditive perception of sexual orientation. Therebey, voice morphing as a new method is introduced into this research area. We will examine which voice parameters contribute to the classification of sexual orientation. For instance, selected acoustic parameters (e.g., fundamental frequency) of straight voices are transferred to those of lesbian/gay voices to different degrees whereby the remaining acoustic parameters are kept constant. Afterwards, a sample of listenters rate the sexual orientation and masculinity/femininity of the generated stimuli. By combining production-oriented and perceptive approaches, possible discrepancies between the expression (speakers) and perception (listeners) of sexual oreintation can be identified. Additionally, the auditive perception of sexual orientation is actually conceptualized as a communicative act. Based on this, aim 3 is to conduct a comprehensive meta-analysis of all relevant studies in this area and to refine and expand the Expression and Perception of Sexual Orientation Model which was developed by the PI during his PhD. The overaching purpose of the present research project is to explain under which conditions stereotypical speech is used to mark sexual orientation and which voice parameters will cause the impression of a certain sexual orientation. Thereby, starting points for evidence-based anti-discrimination work as well as for speech therapy interventions can be established in practice.

Funded by: German Research Foundation

Principal investigator: Sven Kachel

In cooperation with: Melanie C. Steffens 

Duration: 2019-2021

Media, democracy and citizens (MeDeCi): Fragmented media environments and their impact on political information processing and decisions

The interdisciplinary research group unifies scientists from communication sciences, political sciences, and psychology: B. Hilbig, J. Maier, M. Maier, G. Reese, S. Rudert, M. Steffens, C. von Sikorski, S. Winter, E. Bytzek, F. Ehrke, K. Knop, C. Oschatz, and I. Thielmann.

Men who care: The internal route to men’s engagement in communal roles by the example of paternal leave

Research proposal: Men remain underrepresented in traditionally female care roles such as paternal leave. This underrepresentation causes men as well as their families to miss out on the benefits associated with men's increased engagement in such roles. The project identifies currently understudied internal contributors to men's interest in paternal leave and other care roles. First, we examine the effect of male prototypes and the degree to which agency and communion are integrated in such on drawing men towards care roles. Second, we propose that men being drawn towards such roles can be observed in their possible selves, the self-concepts they have for their future. These future-oriented self-concepts are in turn likely to impact men's paternal leave-taking. Third, we examine barriers and facilitators in men’s normative environment for developing and realizing their communal intentions across the transition to parenthood. Lastly, we examine how the transition to parenthood and men’s leave-taking decision can in turn shape their internalization of communion in male (and father) prototypes. With this project, we aim to increase our understanding of internal barriers to men's engagement in care roles such as paternal leave and to provide broader insights into processes that can maintain or challenge gender inequality.

Funded by: FWO (Research Foundation Flanders)

Attrivuted to: Carolin Scheifele

Project management: Colette Van Laar, Melanie C. Steffens

Duration: 2019-2023

Emmy Noether Research Group on Ostracism Decisions

In the Emmy Noether research group on ostracism decisions in social contexts we explore the question why people ostracize others.

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