The Role of Communication Media in Enabling Inclusion of Women in Man-Dominated Teams

Abstract

Does communication media influence women’s inclusion when they are minorities in man-dominated teams, and how? Drawing on media synchronicity theory, gender microaggression and gender differences literature, we investigated the impact of communication media (text-chat vs. videoconference) on women’s perceived inclusion in man-dominated teams, and the underlying mechanism through two communication processes (knowledge sharing and knowledge integration). Through a randomized-experimental design, our findings reveal that women perceive greater inclusion in man-dominated teams when communicating via text-chat communication, compared to videoconference communication. Furthermore, we found that this effect is attributed to the communication process of knowledge integration. This study sheds light on the role that communication media and communication processes can play in enabling inclusivity in group interactions. Theoretical and practical implications for enhancing women's perceived inclusion in man-dominated teams are discussed.