Participatory pressuring and strategic self-silencing theory : warning! there can be health and organizational risks

Abstract

Initial gendered studies on the male dominated organization of Rotary International (Rotary) were catalytic to the decision to do more research on both female and male membership experiences. Previous theoretical knowledge was initially put aside to develop substantive theory about a membership problem and how it was resolved. Theory emerged and was developed using a classical grounded theory approach (Glaser, 1998) to analyze data collected using participant observation. Participatory pressuring (PP) was identified as a central problem for participants. PP tactics were used to engage members to think or engage in certain ways. In the short term, PP tactics often worked, but members often felt uncomfortable with their use and subsequently resorted to strategic self-silencing (SSS) behaviors in resistance and avoidance to protect relationships and/or the organization. A developing conceptual framework of PP and SSS was compared to related scholarship. With data from the literature indicating a causal link between self-silencing and anxiety and depression for women, the research was redirected to comparatively include gendered data. Based on ‘all the data’ from incidents and the literature, the semi-fictional story of Violet emerged. Violet’s story was created to reflect the gendered implications of PP and SSS theory and the sensitive nature of data collected. Violet’s story highlighted the importance of how PP and SSS behaviors can impact women compared to men and offered insight into why women may be opting out of opportunities to participate more in organizational contexts. In the silence of Rotary, leaders are not getting invaluable feedback to address membership retention and recruitment challenges. PP-SSS theory provides both descriptive and explanatory conceptualizations about what is going on in Rotary and the impact these behaviors have at both individual and organizational levels. This research contributes to knowledge about practices used to engage members and to the growing body of knowledge about organizational silence. Descriptive details with conceptual and critical insights on how the research process was conducted contribute to the evolving interpretations of grounded theory methodology.