2149: Gender Differences in Social Networks: Integrating Resource- and Signal-Based Perspectives (17480)

Organizer(s)

• SL

  Shihan Li

  Heinz College - Carnegie Mellon U., United States

Presenter(s)

• CS

  Catherine Shea

  Carnegie Mellon U. - Tepper School of Business, United States

Organizer(s)

• CS

  Catherine Shea

  Carnegie Mellon U. - Tepper School of Business, United States

Discussant(s)

• MR

  Michelle Rogan

  Saïd Business School U. of Oxford, United Kingdom

Presenter(s)

• TT

  Teodora Tomova Shakur

  Texas Christian U., United States

Panelist(s)

• EQ

  Eric Quintane

  ESMT Berlin, Germany

Presenter(s)

• MW

  Meredith Woehler

  Purdue U., United States

Panelist(s)

• CP

  Caitlin Porter

  U. of Memphis, United States
• KC

  Kristin Cullen-Lester

  U. of Mississippi, United States

Presenter(s)

• RB

  Raina Brands

  UCL School of Management, United Kingdom

Accumulated evidence suggests that men and women systematically differ in the patterns of social relations they establish and the benefits they obtain from networks. While increasing efforts have been put into exploring the resource- and signal-related mechanisms underlying the structural origins of gender inequality, they remain fragmented and lack depth and granularity. Scholars are clearly aware of these deficiencies and call for a more comprehensive conceptual framework to integrate different sources underpinning gender differences in network development and utilization. Moreover, understanding how network advantages leak for women requires moving beyond merely focusing on general resources and signals transmitted via network ties. Rather, future research should seek to differentiate between these resources and signals based on their attributes and then investigate how these differences will be reflected in their functions in influencing people’s cognitions, affects, behaviors, and workplace outcomes. In response to these emerging discussions, our symposium brings together four cutting-edge research projects on gender differences in resources obtained from networks and signals derived from patterns of social relationships. This line of work provides a promising starting point for the contingencies under which women’s network disadvantages can be alleviated, closed, or even overturned. For example, our conversations can provide advice to women on how to strategically shape their social relations and exploit network-related advantages for their work performance and career development without incurring the development of negative internal feelings and undesirable external responses from others.

Presentations:

• 15:00 – 16:30 CT (GMT-5/UTC-5)

  2149: Omissive and Undermining Gender Bias in Informal Social Networks (17480)
  

  Author: Raina A. Brands – UCL School of Management
• 15:00 – 16:30 CT (GMT-5/UTC-5)

  2149: Mobilizing Social Capital: Network-based Gender Differences in Job Search Processes (17480)
  

  Author: Teodora Tomova Shakur – Texas Christian U.

  Author: Eric Quintane – ESMT Berlin
• 15:00 – 16:30 CT (GMT-5/UTC-5)

  2149: Genderization of Advice: Disambiguating the Advice Networks of Men and Women (17480)
  

  Author: Catherine Shea – Carnegie Mellon U. - Tepper School of Business

  Author: Shihan Li – Heinz College - Carnegie Mellon U.
• 15:00 – 16:30 CT (GMT-5/UTC-5)

  2149: Should I Reach Up? Gender Differences in Benefiting from Higher-Ranking Contacts (17480)
  

  Author: Meredith Lauren Woehler – Purdue U.

  Author: Caitlin M. Porter – U. of Memphis

  Author: Kristin Cullen-Lester – U. of Mississippi