Gay And Straight Men Prefer ‘Straight-Acting’ Men For Leadership Roles: Study
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A new study from the University of Sydney revealed that a majority of men choose ‘masculine’ gay men vs ‘feminine’ gay men for a ‘high-status’ hires.
The study, published in the peer-reviewed journal Sex Roles, is the first of its kind. It found that men prefer masculine-presenting gay men for high-status roles, over feminine-presenting gay men, regardless of qualifications or competency.
‘Internal Bias, Prejudice, and Discrimination’
This means that more feminine-presenting gay men face “internal bias, prejudice, and potential discrimination in the workplace, including in hiring practices and promotion opportunities.”
In the context of the study, feminine-presenting traits are defined as more” a feminine vocal quality, body language and posture.”
The study involved a sample size of 256 gay and heterosexual men who were asked to cast a Sydney tourism ad, targeting international tourists. The participants watched videos from six shortlisted candidates (actors). They were then told to choose a candidate they viewed as a leader or someone who would be admired by the intended audience.
The results revealed that 59% of both gay and heterosexual men preferred the more masculine-gay male actor for the Sydney tourism ad.
Gay Men Blocking Each Other From Positions Of Power
Ben Gerrard is a researcher in gender and sexuality in the School of Psychology at the University of Sydney.
According to Gerrard, “Gay men are potentially blocking each other from positions of power and leadership due to this implicit bias.
“Men are still expected to conform to more traditional masculine styles of leadership and if they fail to sufficiently project masculine traits they are at risk of status penalties. This is an example of internalised homophobia among the gay community and it impacts opportunities for these gay men.”
“I want us as a community to be more aware of this bias.”
Gerrard went on to point out that it is actually “a misnomer to even think that, because someone’s more masculine, they’re a better leader, especially when contemporary Leadership Research is indicating that, actually feminine qualities, like empathy and collaboration, are much more suited to modern contemporary team-based leadership styles.
“Those more feminine qualities that gay men do possess actually earmark them, potentially as ideal leadership candidates, even in the absence of those traditional overt, macho, masculine dominating traits.”
