Gender roles and decision-making in demographically diverse groups: A case for reviving androgyny

This study examined the gender roles of members of demographically diverse groups and the outcomes of group decision-making. In a laboratory exercise, 40 4-person groups made decisions concerning a complex business case. Groups with high levels of androgyny across members made higher quality decisions than did groups with low levels of androgyny. Group commitment to the decision, however, did not differ by level of androgyny. It was high levels of femininity that was associated with high commitment. Furthermore, the androgyny levels of group members who were women or non-European in descent were more important to decision quality than were those of males of European descent. The findings encourage further investigation of androgyny in settings where complex social interaction occurs and with dependent variables at the group level.