TY - JOUR

T1 - Is the joke on you? The impact of sexist humour and gender dynamics on interpersonal work outcomes

AU - Bouckaert, Yara

AU - Vofrei, Louisa

AU - Jonczyk, Nina

AU - Mertens, Annika

AU - Soliman, Meikel

AU - Venz, Laura

AU - Loschelder, David D.

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

PY - 2025/1

Y1 - 2025/1

N2 - (Workplace) humour can have positive effects on interpersonal (workplace) relationships. However, sexist humour–a form of subtle discrimination that communicates disparagement or degradation at the expense of (mainly) women in a humorous manner–might be highly detrimental in various ways. Despite sexist humour being pervasive in the workplace, little is known about when, how, and why sexist humour impacts the recipients and their work relationship with the initiator. With two pre-registered studies, theoretically based on affective events theory and social identity theory, this research advances knowledge on the interpersonal effects and gender dynamics of sexist humour at work. In the experimental Study 1, 255 participants rated an actor telling a (non-)sexist joke. In the field Study 2, 170 participants recalled a (non-)sexist humour event they encountered at work. Both studies produced converging results: Recipients of sexist humour were less willing to collaborate with the humour initiator and perceived them as less competent; this was psychologically explained by elevated negative affect. These detrimental effects particularly emerged when a man (vs. woman) initiated sexist humour toward a woman (vs. man).

AB - (Workplace) humour can have positive effects on interpersonal (workplace) relationships. However, sexist humour–a form of subtle discrimination that communicates disparagement or degradation at the expense of (mainly) women in a humorous manner–might be highly detrimental in various ways. Despite sexist humour being pervasive in the workplace, little is known about when, how, and why sexist humour impacts the recipients and their work relationship with the initiator. With two pre-registered studies, theoretically based on affective events theory and social identity theory, this research advances knowledge on the interpersonal effects and gender dynamics of sexist humour at work. In the experimental Study 1, 255 participants rated an actor telling a (non-)sexist joke. In the field Study 2, 170 participants recalled a (non-)sexist humour event they encountered at work. Both studies produced converging results: Recipients of sexist humour were less willing to collaborate with the humour initiator and perceived them as less competent; this was psychologically explained by elevated negative affect. These detrimental effects particularly emerged when a man (vs. woman) initiated sexist humour toward a woman (vs. man).

KW - gender

KW - interpersonal work relationships

KW - negative affect

KW - Sexist workplace humour

KW - Management studies

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85209997765&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1080/1359432X.2024.2429850

DO - 10.1080/1359432X.2024.2429850

M3 - Journal articles

AN - SCOPUS:85209997765

VL - 34

SP - 144

EP - 159

JO - European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology

JF - European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology

SN - 1359-432X

IS - 1

ER -