Unconscious Gender Bias Scale Development and Multi-industry Validation

Abstract

Unconscious gender bias is a pervasive problem with significant negative outcomes for both organizations–in terms of financial and social performance –and individual employees–in terms of work contributions and well-being. This study is among the first to comprehensively measure how women leaders experience unconscious gender bias. Using a sample of female higher education executives (N=488), faith-based organization leaders (N=298), and physicians (N=293), the present research creates and validates the Scale for Unconscious Bias Towards Women Leaders (SUBTLE) instrument. Initial results show a reduction in the theoretical model from 27 leadership barriers to 15 latent factors, further lending a clearer understanding of how unconscious gender bias operates within workplace cultures. A fourth industry sample of female attorneys (N=395) provides the opportunity for replication and testing of the predictive ability of the SUBTLE instrument on organizationally relevant variables such as workplace satisfaction, turnover intention, promotional history, and salary. Implications for management and avenues for future research are discussed.