Group-based determinants of identity management strategies

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether or not self-stereotyping over masculine or feminine characteristics, getting satisfaction from being a member of the female gender group, feeling dependent on the female identity, investing in the female identity and feeling the presence of norms that prohibit behaving against traditional gender roles predicts individual mobility and social competition strategies directly, or indirectly through identification (feminist/female). This examination was made by using the concepts presented by the Social Identity Theory, Social Exchange Theory and Investment Model and testing the propositions brought by them. The data collection process of the study consisted of two parts as the preliminary study and the main study. The preliminary study was conducted to provide data for the validity and reliability analyses of the "Membership Stability Scale" and "Normative Effect Scale" that were developed within the scope of this study by utilizing various scales and the "Identity Management Strategies Scale" that was adapted into Turkish from English. The main study was conducted to test the hypotheses of the study. In line with this objective, data were collected from 309 female university students within the scope of the preliminary study and 197 female university students in the main study. The findings showed that the direct and indirect predictive power of getting satisfaction from being a member of the female gender, feeling dependent on the female identity and feeling the presence of norms on strategies was not significant. On the other hand, it was revealed that self-stereotyping over masculine characteristics, self-stereotyping over feminine characteristics and investing in the female identity directly and/or indirectly predicted strategies to a significant extent. These findings were interpreted as that the tendencies of women to follow individual mobility and social competition strategies may be affected by their self-stereotyping (masculine/feminine) and investing in the female identity.