Workplace bullying: The interactive effects of the perpetrator's gender and the target's gender

In: Employee relations, Band 40, Heft 2, S. 264-280

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine if the gender of the perpetrator and the gender of the target have interactive effects on the frequency of downward workplace bullying to which targets are subjected.Design/methodology/approachA cross-sectional design was used on a sample of 125 schoolteachers in Uganda. Self-report data on downward workplace bullying were obtained using the Negative Acts Questionnaire.FindingsThe perpetrator's gender and the target's gender have interactive effects on the level of downward bullying to which targets are subjected. Although targets in within-gender dyads reported higher levels of overall downward workplace bullying than did targets in between-gender dyads, a significant gender-gender interaction was found for personal harassment and work-related harassment but not for intimidation nor organisational harassment.Research limitations/implicationsThe generalisability of the findings is limited due to the sample consisting entirely of schoolteachers in Uganda. Self-report data are a limitation as they are subjective and thus susceptible to various perceptual biases (e.g. social desirability, personality of the respondent). Examining the interactive effects of gender on workplace bullying helps to provide a better understanding of the potential influence of gender in bullying scenarios. The findings from research that considers only the main effects of gender whilst ignoring interactive effects can misinform any theory or policy development.Practical implicationsOrganisations need to resocialise their members so that they learn new attitudes and norms regarding aggressive behaviour in the workplace.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the literature on workplace bullying by examining the interactive effects of gender on the frequency of downward workplace bullying.