So, you want to be a partner? How microaggressions and implicit biases create barriers for promotion
Publication date: 3 February 2025
Abstract
Research methodology
This descriptive case is drawn from the secondary sources by Mungaray (2018), a dissertation. The author, Kimberly R. Shannon (f.k.a. Mungaray) conducted the qualitative research over several months that included several dialogue or talking sessions with organization personnel. Additionally, she collected journals kept by the participants and conducted one-on-one interviews with each participant before and after the series of talking sessions. IRB approval was obtained prior to data collection. The people and places were disguised pursuant to the secondary sources. No AI was used in the writing of the case or Instructors’ Manual.
Case overview/synopsis
This descriptive case study considers the dynamics surrounding the promotion of women to top management (partner) in a Certified Public Accounting firm. The case study presents the perspectives of the current partner and the potential partners to help students recognize microinsults, microinvalidations and other privileged behaviors that perpetuate stereotype threat and learned helplessness, which thus creates barriers to career progression. These often unintentional comments and behaviors may further marginalize certain people (women, people of color and other marginalized identities, including an intersection of identities). The case concentrates on gender inequities and helps students develop an understanding of leadership implications while exercising their ability to consider multiple perspectives and motives. The case enables students to develop a plan of allyship.
Complexity academic level
This case is appropriate for undergraduate courses in ethics, organizational behavior, leadership, industrial psychology, sociology, women and gender studies, capstone courses in business or accounting and communications. Graduate courses in organizational behavior, leadership and women and gender studies.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Disclaimer. This case is intended to be used as the basis for class discussion rather than to illustrate either effective or ineffective handling of a management situation. The case was compiled from published sources.
Citation
Shannon, K.R., Faircloth, M., Plecka, M. and Shannon, T.D. (2025), "So, you want to be a partner? How microaggressions and implicit biases create barriers for promotion", , Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/TCJ-09-2024-0272
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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