To shatter the glass ceiling in healthcare management: who supports affirmative action and why?
We examined the findings of a recent national survey of healthcare executives that showed 90% of women but only 53% of men favoured efforts to increase the proportion of women in senior healthcare management positions. Using the theories of relative deprivation and social identity, we tested hypotheses to suggest the background, work characteristics and attitudes about existing discriminatory practices in their own organizations that correlate with respondents' views about affirmative action for women. Some support is evidenced for the two theories and explanations are suggested to account for apparent anomalies.
Weil
Peter A
PA
American College of Healthcare Executives, Chicago, USA. pweil@ache.org
Mattis
Mary C
MC
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002322:Career Mobility; D005260:Female; D006270:Health Facility Administrators / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D008297:Male; D008571:Men / Q000523:psychology*; D016134:Organizational Policy; D012944:Social Support; D012952:Societies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D014933:Women's Rights / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014931:Women, Working / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data