Literature Review

Literature Review Kaitlyn Shaw Arizona State University COM 207 28 Fe ruary 201!

Literature Review

"ntro#u$tion "%a&ine what it woul# 'eel li(e to s)ea(* ut not e listene# to* or to 'eel as thou&h there is no )oint in s)ea(in& at all e$ause it will not e hear#+ ,he i#ea that so%ethin& $an e hear# ut not listene# to is e-)lore# in the %ute# &rou) theory+ ,he %ute# &rou) is #e'ine# y .ri''in /20120 as* 12eo)le elon&in& to low3)ower &rou)s who %ust $han&e their lan&ua&e when $o%%uni$atin& )u li$ly* thus* their i#eas are o'ten overloo(e#4 /)+ !510+ ,he %ute# &rou) theory so$ially re)resents an# e-)lains the $o%%uni$ation )atterns o' the non3#o%inant $ultural &rou)s+ ,hese &rou)s are o'ten i#enti'ie# as %inorities an# wo%en+ "t is i%)ortant to ta(e a $loser loo( at the %ute# &rou) theory e$ause it &ives un#erstan#in& to the 'a$t that %any ti%es voi$es are not hear#* an# &ives (nowle#&e a out how to over$o%e the issue o' %ute# voi$es+ Many )eo)le e-)erien$e havin& their voi$es %ute# in #i''erent situations in so$iety to#ay* an# stu#yin& this theory &ives s)e$i'i$ e-a%)les o' how an# where these situations are o$$urrin&+ Mute# voi$es o$$ur %ost o'ten in &rou)s that are ethni$ally #iverse* an# when in o$$urren$e in the wor()la$e* result in e%)loyees e-)erien$in& #i''erent levels o' #isen&a&e%ent+ ,his will e su))orte# y 'irst evaluatin& a %ore &eneral stu#y on the )er$e)tions o' )arti$i)ants who )artoo( in a #iverse s%all &rou) #is$ussion+ 6e-t the %ute# &rou) theory will e e-)lore# %ore in #e)th y analyzin& a stu#y on %ute# voi$es in a $ulturally #iverse wor()la$e+ ,heoreti$al 7is$ussion ,he theory that is use# as the 'ra%ewor( to su))ort the state%ent that %ute# voi$es result in #isen&a&e%ent* is the %ute# &rou) theory+ ,he %ute# &rou) theory #es$ri es a ty)e o' so$ial hierar$hy that #eter%ines the $o%%uni$ation syste% within a &rou)+ ,he %ute# &rou)s in so$ial settin&s 'in# the%selves either s)ea(in& ut not ein& listene# to* $han&in& the way in whi$h they $o%%uni$ate in or#er to a#here to stan#ar#s set y the #o%inant &rou)s* or losin& their

Literature Review

voi$e $o%)letely an# not even atte%)tin& to voi$e their thou&hts+ ,he %ute# &rou) theory has een #evelo)e# %ore y Cheris Kra%arae as a way to #es$ri e an# analyze the way wo%en are )ortraye# in so$iety+ As e-)laine# y .ri''en /20120* 1For the last 89 years Kra%arae has een a lea#er in the e''ort to e-)lain an# alter the %ute# status o' wo%en an# other %ar&inalize# &rou)s4 /)+ !500+ Kra%arae has use# the %ute# &rou) theory an# $o% ine# it with the i#eas o' 'e%inists to atte%)t to $han&e a so$iety in whi$h wo%en are the %ute# &rou)+ 1Cheris Kra%arae:s insi&hts an# #e$larations o' wo%en as a &rou) %ute# y %en have hel)e# sha(e u) tra#itional )atterns o' $o%%uni$ation etween the se-es4 /.ri''in* 2012* )+ !700+ ;hile the 'o$us o' Kra%arae is )re#o%inantly on wo%an as a %ute# &rou)* she a$(nowle#&es that other less )ower'ul &rou)s o'ten ti%es e-)erien$e %ute# voi$es+ As state# a ove* the %ute# &rou) is not always <ust si%)ly not listene# to* ut so%eti%es they are 'or$e# to $han&e their lan&ua&e to $on'or% to the $o%%uni$ation stan#ar#s set y the #o%inant &rou)s+ ,he less )ower'ul &rou) o'ten ti%es 'eel <u#&e# or ri#i$ule# y #o%inant &rou)s* an# that is also a way in whi$h their voi$es are %ute#+ ,his is #es$ri e# in re'eren$e to wo%en y .ri''in /20120* 1=ven i' the )u li$ %o#e o' e-)ression $ontaine# a ri$h vo$a ulary to #es$ri e 'e%inine e-)erien$e* wo%en woul# still e %ute# i' their %o#es o' e-)ression were i&nore# or ri#i$ule#4 /)+ !580+ ,he )ur)ose o' the stu#ies on %ute# &rou) theory are to $han&e the way in whi$h $o%%uni$ation )atterns o$$ur* an# hel) to era#i$ate %ute# &rou)s in so$iety+ 1Li(e other 'or%s o' $riti$al theory* 'e%inist theory is not $ontent to %erely )oint out asy%%etries in )ower+ ,he ulti%ate &oal o' %ute# &rou) theory is to $han&e the %an3%a#e lin&uisti$ syste% that (ee)s wo%en >in their )la$e:4 /.ri''in* 2012* )+ !553!570+ =li%inatin& %ute# &rou)s in ethni$ally #iverse wor()la$es woul# lea# to all e%)loyees 'eelin& value# an# en&a&e#+ Synthesis o' S$holarshi)

Literature Review

A %ore &eneral way o' loo(in& at the e''e$t o' %ute# voi$es is y stu#yin& the )er$e)tions o' )arti$i)ants in an ethni$ally #iverse s%all &rou) #is$ussion+ A stu#y title#* 17eli eration an# 7iversity? 2er$e)tions o' S%all .rou) 7is$ussions y Ra$e an# =thni$ity4 ta(es a loo( at how various ethni$ities view the sa%e s%all &rou) #is$ussion #i''erently+ ,his stu#y is i%)ortant e$ause s%all &rou) #is$ussions are so $o%%only use# in so$iety 'or %any #i''erent )ur)oses* an# this ta(es a $loser loo( at how ra$e an# ethni$ity )lay a role in the @uality o' the #is$ussion+ "t also ta(es the views o' those involve# in the #is$ussion into a$$ount* an# atte%)ts to 'in# ways in whi$h $ulturally #iverse* s%all &rou) #is$ussions $an e i%)rove#+ ,he hy)othesis 'or this stu#y was* 1to e-a%ine how %e% ers o' #iverse $itizen &rou)s who )arti$i)ate# in a #eli erative 'oru% )er$eive# their s%all &rou) intera$tion4 /A #el3Mone%* Ain&ha%* Marin$i$* B ,o%(ins* 2010* )+ 7920+ ,he )arti$i)ants in$lu#e# 100 a#ult resi#ents o' O%aha* re$ruite# via tele)hone* usin& a ran#o% #i&it #ialin& syste%+ ,here were 92 'e%ales an# !8 %ales* with &rou)s 'ro% all #i''erent ra$es+ ,here were seven Cis)ani$s* 18 A'ri$an A%eri$ans* one Asian* 55 ;hites* two 6ative A%eri$ans* an# si- other or no answer )arti$i)ants /A #el3Mone%* Ain&ha%* Marin$i$* B ,o%(ins* 2010* )+ 7980+ ,he results o' this stu#y 'oun# that al%ost everyone involve# en<oye# the ra$ially an# ethni$ally #iverse s%all &rou) #is$ussions+ Cowever* the )eo)le o' $olor 'oun# the s%all &rou) #is$ussions to e %ore )ositive in re&ar#s to $o%%uni$ation @uality* &rou) e''e$tiveness* an# satis'a$tion with their &rou)* than the whites #i#+ ,he results su&&este# that the reason 'or the )er$e)tions 'ro% ;hite )arti$i)ants were %ost li(ely #ue to whites ein& use# to havin& e@ual o))ortunity to have their voi$es hear#+ ,heses results were e-)laine# 'urther* 1%any )eo)le o' $olor have $onsi#era le e-)erien$e ein& silen$e# an# %ar&inalize# when intera$tin& with ;hite* #o%inant &rou) %e% ers+ ;hereas %any ;hite in#ivi#uals %ay e-)e$t e@ual treat%ent or ta(e it 'or &rante# when $o%%uni$atin&

Literature Review

in a )u li$ #eli eration settin&* the e-)erien$e o' ein& a le to s)ea( one:s %in# an# have others listen attentively in a &rou) with at least 90D ;hite %e% ershi) a))ears to have een unusual an# noteworthy 'or in#ivi#uals o' $olor4 /A #el3Mone%* Ain&ha%* Marin$i$* B ,o%(ins* 2010* )+ 7550+ ,his stu#y shows how in &eneral* %inority ethni$ &rou)s have e$o%e a$$usto%e# to ein& the %ute# &rou)+ ;hen the ethni$ &rou)s* who are usually %ute#* were &iven e@ual o))ortunity to have their voi$es hear#* they were %u$h %ore en&a&e# in the #is$ussion+ Also* not only were the %inorities %ore en&a&e#* ut they also 'elt a sense o' $ontri ution an# $a%e away 'ro% the #is$ussion 'eelin& they a##e# value+ "t is i%)ortant to %a(e a %ore $on$erte# e''ort when &atherin& sa%)les 'or any ty)e o' &rou)* to ensure all ethni$ities are re)resente#* an# &iven the $han$e to e hear#+ One %a<or reason %ute# &rou)s 're@uently o$$ur in the wor()la$e* is e$ause the wor()la$e is o'ten set u) in a hierar$hi$al %anner+ ,here are the )eo)le within a $o%)any that are in $har&e an# hol# %ore )ower* an# then there are the )eo)le who wor( elow the%* that have %u$h less )ower+ ,o &ain %ore s)e$i'i$ (nowle#&e a out the )er$e)tions o' %ute# &rou)s it is i%)ortant to ta(e a $loser loo( an# resear$h the issue o' %ute# &rou)s in the wor()la$e throu&h a stu#y title#* 1=%)loyee Mistreat%ent an# Mute# Eoi$es in the Culturally 7iverse ;or()la$e4+ ,he issue o' %ute# &rou)s in the wor()la$e is still a $o%%on )ro le% in so$iety+ ;hile %ore $o%%only a out 1 in 5 wor(ers re)ort %istreat%ent in the wor()la$e* in so%e )la$es u) to 90D o' the wor(ers re)orte# %istreat%ent /Meares* Oetzel* ,orres* 7er(a$s* B .inossar* 200!* )+ !0+ ,he hy)othesis o' the stu#y was as 'ollows* 1Mute# &rou) theory )rovi#es a use'ul 'ra%ewor( 'or re$o&nizin& how the #yna%i$s o' )ower )rivile&e so%e voi$es over others+ Further* stu#yin& $o%%uni$ation a out %istreat%ent in the wor()la$e $an )rovi#e a etter un#erstan#in& o' the )ro$ess o' %utin& an# voi$in&4 /Meares* Oetzel* ,orres* 7er(a$s* B

Literature Review

.inossar* 200!* )+ F0+ ,he )arti$i)ants in$lu#e# 88 wo%en an# 85 %en* all ran&in& in a&e* tenures* an# levels within one or&anization+ ,here were 88 =uro)ean A%eri$ans* 21 Cis)ani$s* three A'ri$an A%eri$ans* two 6ative A%eri$ans* an# one Asian A%eri$an+ ,here were also si)arti$i)ants who i#enti'ie# the%selves as &ay* les ian* or ise-ual+ /Meares* Oetzel* ,orres* 7er(a$s* B .inossar* 200!* )+ 100+ O' the 5F )arti$i)ants* the results $on$lu#e# that 57 o' the% were i#enti'ie# as either )rivile&e# or %ute#+ ,hose who were i#enti'ie# as %ute# were #ivi#e# into three $ate&ories* %ute#3 ut3en&a&e#* an&rily #isen&a&e#* an# resi&ne#+ ,hose who were i#enti'ie# as %ute#3 ut3en&a&e# 'elt as thou&h they were not ein& listene# to* yet they ha# not $ease# tryin& to e hear#+ 1,heir 'rustration $a%e 'ro% the e-)erien$e o' not ein& hear# or not &ettin& a res)onse* yet tryin& to wor( throu&h the syste% an# re%ain $onstru$tive4 /Meares* Oetzel* ,orres* 7er(a$s* B .inossar* 200!* )+ 190+ ,he &rou) that i#enti'ie# as an&rily #isen&a&e# were %u$h %ore e%otional a out their e-)erien$e+ 1,he )arti$i)ants who tol# these ty)es o' stories #es$ri e# the%selves as vi$ti%s an# )ortraye# the %ana&e%ent at 'ault oth 'or $ausin& the %istreat%ent an# not resolvin& it+ ,heir rea$tion to the %istreat%ent was to with#raw )hysi$ally 'ro% the situation* yet without ein& a le to #eta$h e%otionally 'ro% the #estru$tive 'or$es as wor(4 /Meares* Oetzel* ,orres* 7er(a$s* B .inossar* 200!* )+ 150+ Finally* those who were a )art o' the &rou) i#enti'ie# as resi&ne# were an&ry yet they ha# $o%e to ter%s with the 'a$t that it was <ust the way it was &oin& to e* an# 'i&ure# their voi$es woul# always e %ute#+ 1,he in#ivi#uals sharin& resi&ne# stories have &iven u) ho)e 'or any $han&e in the or&anization+ ,hey are still )resent )hysi$ally an# still #oin& their wor(* ut #es$ri e no sense o' o)ti%is% that $han&e is )ossi le4 /Meares* Oetzel* ,orres* 7er(a$s* B .inossar* 200!* )+ 153170+ ,he stu#y also $on$lu#e# that those who were )rivile&e# 'elt that they $oul# 'i- any %istreat%ent y #ire$tly $o%%uni$atin& with the )erson who %istreate# the%* or y see(in& hel) 'ro% a

Literature Review

su)ervisor+ ,hose who were %ute# 'elt that they $oul# not 'i- %istreat%ent in#ivi#ually or with hel)+ "t is o' ut%ost i%)ortan$e that all e%)loyees re%ain en&a&e# in their wor( environ%ents* an# 'eel that all issues $an e 'i-e# either in#e)en#ently or with the hel) o' su)eriors+ Con$lusion ,he stu#ies )resente# in this )a)er su))ort the state%ent that %ute# voi$es o$$ur %ost o'ten in &rou)s that are ethni$ally #iverse* an# when in o$$urren$e in the wor()la$e* result in e%)loyees e-)erien$in& #i''erent levels o' #isen&a&e%ent+ ,he s%all &rou) #is$ussion stu#y showe# how a$$usto%e# to %ute# voi$es %inority ethni$ities have e$o%e* #ue to how 're@uently they en$ounter this issue+ ,he stu#y on %ute# voi$es in the wor()la$e #is)lays that on$e e%)loyees 'eel as thou&h their voi$e is %ute# they $an e-)erien$e #i''erent levels o' #isen&a&e%ent+ More wor( nee#s to e #one to hel) eli%inate the issue o' %ute# voi$es in or#er to ensure that all voi$es in our #iverse so$iety are ein& listene# to+ ,his )ro le% es)e$ially nee#s to e erase# 'ro% the wor()la$e in or#er to ri#&e the &a) etween u))er %ana&e%ent an# the rest o' the e%)loyees+ ,his woul# ensure that all e%)loyees 'eel a sense o' value to the $o%)any* an# %ay allow new i#eas to e orn 'ro% those who were never hear# e'ore+ ,he %ute# &rou) theory is a &oo# 'ra%ewor( to $ontinue stu#yin& ways to $o% at %ute# voi$es+ Re'eren$es A #el3Mone%* ,+* Ain&ha%* S+* Marin$i$* G+* B ,o%(ins* A+ /20100+ 7eli eration an# #iversity? 2er$e)tions o' s%all &rou) #is$ussions y ra$e an# ethni$ity+ S%all .rou) Resear$h* !1* 7!53775+ #oi? 10+1177H10!5!F5!1087789F Aowes* A+M+ an# 7o%o(os* ,+ M+ /1FF50+ 2a(istani wo%en an# %aternity $are? raisin& %ute# voi$es+ So$iolo&y o' Cealth B "llness* 18* !9I59+ #oi? 10+1111H1!573F955+e)10F8!!12

Literature Review

Boyle, M. P., Schmierbach, M., Armstrong, C. L., Cho, J., McCluskey, M., McLeod, D. M., & Shah, D. V. (2006). Expressive Responses to News Stories About Extremist Groups: A Framing Experiment. Journal of Communication, 56, 271288. doi: 10.1111/j 2466.2006.00019.x Griffin, Em. (2012). Muted group theory of Cheris Kramarae. A First Look at Communication Theory. 8th ed. (pp. 460-471). New York: McGraw-Hill. Meares, M. M., Oetzel, J. G., Torres, A., Derkacs, D., & Ginossar, T. (2004). Employee Mistreatment and Muted Voices in the Culturally Diverse Workplace. Journal of Applied Communication Research, 32, 1-25. doi: 10.1080/0090988042000178121 1460-