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Actions Speak Louder Than Words: Outsiders' Perceptions Of Diversity Mixed Messages, Leon Windscheid, Lynn Bowes-Sperry, Deborah L. Kidder, Ho Kwan Cheung, Michele Morner, Filip Lievens

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

To attract a gender diverse workforce, many employers use diversity statements to publicly signal that they value gender diversity. However, this often represents a misalignment between words and actions (i.e., a diversity mixed message) because most organizations are male dominated, especially in board positions. We conducted 3 studies to investigate the potentially indirect effect of such diversity mixed messages through perceived behavioral integrity on employer attractiveness. In Study 1, following a 2 x 2 design, participants (N = 225) were either shown a pro gender diversity statement or a neutral statement, in combination with a gender diverse board (4 men …