"Maybe I Shouldn't Have Worn Such High Heels" Examining Self-Presentation Expectations for Corporate Women Using Communication Theory of Identity

<p>The present study examines how corporate women use self-presentation in the workplace to communicate professionalism. The study utilizes Communication Theory of Identity (CTI) to consider the self-presentation experiences of corporate women. CTI identifies four identity layers: personal, relational, enacted, and communal, which interact and influence each other as individuals attempt to define themselves. Through semi-structured, in-depth interviews with corporate women, the present study found the following results: women often receive communication regarding self-presentation standards from peers rather than formal policies, self-presentation expectations have become more casual and diverse, women still encounter challenges resulting in the need to (re)negotiate their identity, and corporate women often experience personal-enacted identity gaps as a result of self-presentation expectations. This study contributes to the growing collection of academic literature that seeks to better understand the experiences of corporate women’s gendered marginalization in the workplace.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Communication - Communication Studies Track

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Communication Department

Year dc:date.available

2023

Author dc:creator

• Mack, Taylor E.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Dr. Benjamin Baker
• Dr. Tesa Leonce
• Dr. Tiffany McBride

• Communication Theory of Identity
• Self-Presentation
• Corporate Women
• Business and Corporate Communications
• Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Ethnicity in Communication
• Other Communication

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

https://csuepress.columbusstate.edu/theses_dissertations/498

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:csuepress.columbusstate.edu:theses_dissertations-1500