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Heteroprofessionalism: The power of the gender/sex binary in the workplace
Thekla Morgenroth1, Teri A Kirby1, Jojanneke van der Toorn2
1Purdue University, Department of Psychological Sciences, 703 Third Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
Abstract:
LGBTQ + people continue to face bias and discrimination in the workplace. In this article, we focus on one subtle yet insidious manifestation of such bias: heteroprofessionalism. In workplace contexts, professionalism is generally encouraged. However, what is considered professional is subjective and often shaped by those with high status identities such as cis-heterosexuality. LGBTQ + identities are thus labelled unprofessional and inappropriate for the workplace context. We discuss (1) how heteroprofessionalism can be viewed as a manifestation of assimilation ideology that is employed to reinforce the gender/sex binary and (2) the negative consequences heteroprofessionalism has for members of the LGBTQ + community. We discuss future research directions and end with recommendations for combatting heteroprofessionalism and its harmful consequences.
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