Saudi Female Journalists’ Perspectives: The Influence of Gender-Related Work Problems, Support, and Intergroup Contact on Work-Related Outcomes and Attitudes toward Saudi Men

Abstract

Abstract From the perspectives of Saudi female journalists (N = 207), the current online survey examined the predictive association between work related problems (i.e., gender discrimination and sexual harassment), social and government support, and work-related outcomes (i.e., job stress, intention to leave, and job satisfaction), and affective, cognitive, and behavioral attitudes toward Saudi men. In addition, guided by intergroup contact theory (Brown & Hewstone, 2005; Pettigrew, 1998), the current online survey tested the direct and indirect (through intergroup anxiety) effects of female Saudi journalists’ report of communication quantity and quality with male coworkers on their attitudes toward Saudi men in general. Supporting the hypotheses of this study, hierarchical regression analyses results revealed gender discrimination and sexual harassment were significant positive predictors of job stress and intention to leave the job, but were negative predictors of affective and cognitive attitudes toward men. In addition, perceived government support was a significant positive predictor of job satisfaction as well as affective and cognitive attitudes toward Saudi men in general. Furthermore, results demonstrated received social support was a positive predictor of affective attitudes toward men. Regarding intergroup contact and attitudes, mediation analysis indicated that both communication quantity and quality had a significant positive indirect effect through intergroup anxiety on the attitudinal measures. Results also revealed a significant direct effect of communication quality with male coworkers on behavioral attitudes toward men. These findings are discussed considering women’s participation in the media industry in Saudi Arabia, gender communication, intergroup contact theory, and directions for future research.