Disclosure and Stereotype Congruence Among Gay and Lesbian Employees

Abstract

Although past research has examined disclosure of sexual orientation in work settings, this work has yielded contradictory findings. The present research provides a clearer understanding of this phenomenon by acknowledging that one’s gender expression (e.g., “butch,” “fem,” “masc”) affects decisions to disclose, disclosure strategies, and others’ reactions to disclosure. Our findings suggest that employees whose gender expressions are congruent with sexual orientation stereotypes (e.g., “butch” lesbians) disclose more readily and are believed more than stereotype-incongruent employees. Alternatively, stereotype-incongruent employees (e.g., feminine-presenting lesbians) signal their identities more, come out more formally, and are met with more resistance/disbelief than their stereotype-congruent counterparts (e.g., masculine-presenting lesbians).