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A trifecta trajectory of moral taint contagion: Women (church) leaders making work dirty

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  • Gina Grandy
  • Sharon Mavin

Abstract

This article offers insights into the dynamic and complex nature of moral taint, specifically taint that emanates at the individual level, triggered by gender, and the trajectory of this moral taint at work. Through a qualitative study of women church leaders, it explores how gender might serve as a trigger of moral taint to dirty the work. The women church leaders are perceived to be morally questionable and a source of disgust. Their gender triggers moral taint. This moral taint creates the risk of a reverse trifecta of taint contagion from the women toward the occupation, institution, and stakeholders. Others respond to the women with disgust, deflecting and protecting against contamination. The women leaders perform gendered dirty work in this sacredly masculine context and their leadership privilege is unstable, immoral, and contested because of their gender. We offer a conceptualization of gendered dirty work(ers) and suggest research avenues for women in leadership.

Suggested Citation

  • Gina Grandy & Sharon Mavin, 2025. "A trifecta trajectory of moral taint contagion: Women (church) leaders making work dirty," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(3), pages 1044-1061, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:gender:v:32:y:2025:i:3:p:1044-1061
    DOI: 10.1111/gwao.13196
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Tamika Alana Perrott, 2019. "Doing hot and ‘dirty’ work: Masculinities and occupational identity in firefighting," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(10), pages 1398-1412, October.
    2. Grougiou, Vassiliki & Dedoulis, Emmanouil & Leventis, Stergios, 2016. "Corporate Social Responsibility Reporting and Organizational Stigma: The Case of “Sin” Industries," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(2), pages 905-914.
    3. Natasha Slutskaya & Ruth Simpson & Jason Hughes & Alexander Simpson & Selçuk Uygur, 2016. "Masculinity and Class in the Context of Dirty Work," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 23(2), pages 165-182, March.
    4. Blake E. Ashforth & Glen E. Kreiner, 2014. "Dirty Work and Dirtier Work: Differences in Countering Physical, Social, and Moral Stigma. 脏活与更脏的工作：在对抗身体、社会和道德污名上的差异," Management and Organization Review, The International Association for Chinese Management Research, vol. 10(1), pages 81-108, March.
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