Women working in male-dominated organizations, such as the military, often face heightened stress (Evans & Steptoe, 2002) and identity threats (Hall et al., 2019), partly due to pervasive gender stereotypes (Heilman, 2012). These environments, often perceived as meritocratic (Doerr et al., 2021), lead women to rely on individual identity strategies rather than institutional support to fit in. This pilot study explored how such strategies relate to well-being and perceived stress at work, focusing on the French Navy.
A 12-item multidimensional scale was developed to assess four identity strategies based on the social identity theory (Tajfel & Turner, 1979; Blanz et al., 1998): assimilation, social competition, individual mobility, and comparison with a standard. This scale was administered to 87 female military personnel and showed satisfactory psychometric properties. The participants also completed a questionnaire measuring perceived stress (Cohen et al., 1983) and positive workplace well-being (Biétry & Creusier, 2013).
Assimilation—adopting masculine norms to fit in—was associated with lower well-being, including poorer relations with management (r = -.29, p = .009) and a more negative perception of the work environment (r = -.35, p = .001). Social competition and individual mobility were not significantly related to well-being or stress. However, comparison with standard—identifying with high-performing female role models—was linked to better workplace relationships, especially with supervisors (r = .24, p = .03). Individual mobility appeared more among middle managers (F(2, 84) = 5.05, p = .009, η² = .107), suggesting that the use of this strategy also reflects one's role and context.
These findings highlight the complexity of identity strategies in male-dominated settings. Promoting role models rather than assimilation may enhance inclusion and retention—crucial for the French Navy, where women represent only 16% of the workforce. A new data collection is currently underway to replicate and extend these results.