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What’s Race Got to Do with It? The Interactive Effect of Race and Gender on Negotiation Offers and Outcomes

Author

Listed:
  • Angelica Leigh

    (Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708)

  • Sreedhari D. Desai

    (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599)

Abstract

Research suggests that women negotiators tend to obtain worse outcomes than men; however, we argue this finding does not apply to all women. Integrating research on social hierarchies, gender in negotiations, and intersectional stereotype content, we develop a theoretical framework that explains the interactive effect of race and gender on offers and outcomes received in distributive negotiations. With a focus on Black and White women and men negotiators, we predicted that stereotypes related to their race and gender lead Black women negotiators to receive more favorable negotiation offers and outcomes than White women and Black men negotiators and this effect is explained by ascriptions of dominance and prestige, respectively. Results of three experimental studies involving diverse samples—online panel participants, individuals selling items on Craigslist, and MBA students—support these predictions. More specifically, we find that Black women negotiators are perceived as more dominant than White women negotiators, and Black women negotiators are ascribed greater prestige than Black men negotiators. These ascriptions allow Black women negotiators to receive more favorable negotiation offers and outcomes compared with White women and Black men. These findings highlight the importance of jointly considering the influence of race and gender in negotiations.

Suggested Citation

  • Angelica Leigh & Sreedhari D. Desai, 2023. "What’s Race Got to Do with It? The Interactive Effect of Race and Gender on Negotiation Offers and Outcomes," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 34(2), pages 935-958, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:ororsc:v:34:y:2023:i:2:p:935-958
    DOI: 10.1287/orsc.2022.1629
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    References listed on IDEAS

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