Boulard, E., Isaia, D., Demarque, C., & Fointiat, V.

The role of work features and job purpose in the dehumanization of cleaning ladies

This study focuses on the role of work features on cleaning ladies’ dehumanization, bearing the stigma of doing both physically and socially tainted work. The aim of the present work is first to replicate the results obtained concerning work characteristics in a nonindustrial context, and then to study the role of task orientation on objectification and perceived job satisfaction. We conceived vignettes presenting the activities of a cleaning lady, varying her work features (repetitiveness vs. nonrepetitiveness) and job purpose (bringing cleanliness vs. removing dirt). In line with previous works, our results showed that repetitiveness led to dementalizing the worker and to attributing lower job satisfaction. This effect was moderated by the job purpose: when the job was clean-oriented, the participants dehumanized the target more when her activity was described as repetitive rather than varied. These results are discussed in terms of conformity to stereotypes.

Testing, Psychometrics, Methodology in Applied Psychology, 2023, Vol. 30, pp. 173 – 184, DOI: 10.4473/TPM30.2.4