Date of Award

1-1-2013

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Specialization

Communication and Leadership

School or Department

School of Leadership Studies

First Advisor

Dr. Nobuya Inagaki

Abstract

Women and their work is a topic ofinterest in various fields ofacademia. Numerous research articles discuss a range oftopics as it relates to the unique experiences women endure to earn wage. However, the primary focus ofmost articles is grounded in the analysis ofhow women compare to men. This qualitative study utilizes the work experiences of women to help identify and define any sense ofcognitive dissonance of working women and whether or not the likelihood ofdissonance changes depending on their chosen career tracks. In this study the interview responses of working women are considered in conjunction with research articles to determine ifthe communication acts required ofwomen in the workplace differ from the beliefs women hold about the way they are expected to communicate creating a sense ofcognitive dissonance. The study results suggest that women in both traditional and entrepreneurial career tracks experience some level ofcognitive dissonance. Also, the aversion of in-depth relational communication practices in the traditional corporate atmosphere may result in higher levels of cognitive dissonance for women.

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