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Reducing Sex Differences in Visual Displays of Dominance

Knowledge is Power

Wittenberg University

John F. Dovidio

Colgate University

Steve L. Ellyson

Youngstown State University

Previous research has demonstrated, consistent with expectation states theory, that men display greater power visually on masculine and non-gender-linked tasks than women; whereas women exhibit more power visually on feminine tasks than men. Our study investigated more specifically the role that actual knowledge plays in moderating sex differences in visual displays of power on gender-linked tasks. Mixed-sex dyads discussed two masculine, two feminine, and two non-gender-linked tasks. For one set of masculine, feminine, and non-gender-linked tasks, both dyad members received training related to the tasks; for the other set of tasks, subjects received no special training. The results for the tasks on which subjects did not receive training generally replicated the earlier findings. When sex differences in task familiarity were substantially reduced by training, however, sex differences in visual displays of power were eliminated. These findings demonstrate the importance of actual knowledge as a moderator of power-related visual behavior

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