Graduation Year

2025

Date of Submission

12-2024

Document Type

Open Access Senior Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Psychology

Reader 1

Jennifer Feitosa

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Terms of Use for work posted in Scholarship@Claremont.

Rights Information

© 2024 Charlene Marie Baghdadi

Abstract

Humor is a key element in workplace dynamics, influencing leadership, team cohesion, and career advancement. However, its impact is not equal among genders. This paper explores the interplay between humor and gender in professional settings, examining how different types of humor – positive (affiliative, self-enhancing, coping sense of humor) and negative (aggressive, self-defeating) – are perceived and used by men and women. Specifically, it investigates how gender and team composition moderate the relationship between types of humor and workplace outcomes, with gender stereotypes acting as a mediator. This analysis highlights that men often benefit from a broader acceptance of humor types, often using humor to signal dominance and status, while women, especially in leadership roles, face social penalties when humor deviates from traditional gender norms. This reinforces gendered hierarchies, limiting women’s ability to use humor as freely as men in the workplace. By synthesizing findings from existing literature, this paper uncovers how humor’s impact varies across gender and status, offering insights into how it can reinforce or challenge workplace biases. The framework proposes pathways for future research to explore humor's potential in fostering inclusive organizational cultures.

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