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LGBTQ@NASA and Beyond: Work Structure and Workplace Inequality among LGBTQ STEM Professionals
1University of Michigan.
Work and Occupations
|March 29, 2024
Summary
Organizational work structures significantly impact LGBTQ professionals in STEM. Dynamic, project-based teams increase marginalization, while stable, unit-based structures foster inclusivity and community for LGBTQ individuals.
Area of Science:
- Organizational Psychology
- Sociology of Work
- LGBTQ+ Studies
Background:
- Scholarly understanding of organizational processes influencing LGBTQ workplace inequality is emerging.
- Workplace structures are increasingly recognized as critical factors affecting marginalized groups.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how organizational work structures impact LGBTQ professionals' experiences of marginalization and devaluation in STEM.
- To identify specific mechanisms through which work design contributes to inequality.
Main Methods:
- Multimethod approach combining qualitative interviews with STEM professionals at two NASA centers.
- Quantitative analysis of survey data from over 14,000 US STEM professionals, including 594 LGBTQ individuals.
Main Results:
- LGBTQ professionals in dynamic, project-based teams reported more marginalization and devaluation compared to those in stable, unit-based structures.
- Dynamic teams required rapid credibility establishment and status management, hindering inclusive interactions for LGBTQ individuals.
- Stable structures facilitated trust-building, status navigation, and LGBTQ community development.
Conclusions:
- Work structure is an important organizational mechanism driving LGBTQ inequality in STEM.
- Shifting from dynamic to stable work structures could mitigate marginalization and promote inclusivity for LGBTQ professionals.
- Further research is needed to explore and address work structure as a key factor in workplace inequality.
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