Tokenism at Workplace: Numbers and beyond

Abstract

The present research work intended to study the effect of Gender, Occupational gender type and proportional numerical strength on Work Alienation. According to Tokenism theory (Kanter, 1977), “Tokens” (those who comprise less than 15% of a group’s total) are expected to experience a variety of hardships in the workplace, such as feelings of Heightened Visibility, Isolation, and limited opportunities for advancement. Most previous studies have defined Tokenism narrowly in terms of proportional numerical strength at workplace. The present study extends the framework of prior research work by examining Workplace Tokenism as a function of Gender, Occupational Gender Typing (Gender Atypical/Gender Neutral or Non Atypical) and Proportional (Male-Female) Numerical Strength at workplace (Tokens/Non Tokens), with an examination of different groups of Males and Females in Gender Atypical and Gender Neutral/Non Atypical occupations as numerical Tokens and Non Tokens respectively. Total sample size was 250. Results depict that the complex interaction of Gender, Gender type of Occupation and Male Female proportional numerical strength impact experienced Tokenism.