This event is part of the 2024-2025 webinar series run by researchers from Accommodating Diversity in the Workplace. Sign up for the webinar series to receive the joining link.
Metaphors that matter – how figurative language influences perceptions of
promotability of women and men.
Presenter: Professor Sylvia Jaworska, University of Reading
This study examines the influence of metaphorical language in performance evaluations on perceptions of promotability for women and men in white-collar workplaces. Through a quasi-experimental online survey with 280 participants, the research investigated six metaphorical personas: athlete, soldier, master, confidant, diver, and driver. Findings show that metaphorical language significantly enhances perceptions of promotability compared to non-metaphorical descriptions. The master persona received the highest promotability ratings, while confidant received the lowest. However, the study also exposes a strong gender bias. All personas were rated higher for male candidates, indicating that metaphors amplify existing gender biases and reinforce a male-dominated business view. While metaphors from traditionally masculine domains boost promotability perceptions for men, their effect is less pronounced for women. The study recommends raising awareness of metaphors’ persuasive power and monitoring their use in performance reviews and other forms of evaluations to mitigate unintended bias in organizational decision-making regarding promotion and pay.