Research
I view allyship in organizations as a process unfolding across three stages: Activation, Manifestation, and Impact. Accordingly, the majority of my research aligns with one of these streams
Activation: Becoming an Ally
How do organizations encourage their members to engage in allyship? In the first stage, Activation, I focus on how people become allies, which includes not only providing support for reducing social inequality, but also the belief that allyship is worth persisting through insecurities or challenges.
Relevant Publications:
Leslie, L. M., Flynn, E., Foster-Gimbel, O. A., & Manchester, C. F. (In Press). Happy Talk: Is Common Diversity Rhetoric Effective Diversity Rhetoric? Academy of Management Journal.
Foster-Gimbel, O. A., Pillemer, J., & Phillips, L. T. Authentic Allyship? Feeling authentic increases allyship behavior via greater psychological standing. (Under Review at Journal of Experimental Psychology: General)
Foster-Gimbel, O. A. & Engeln, R. A Mile in her Heels: Discrepancies in men and women’s estimates for how often women are sexually objectified may depend on the behavior (Manuscript in Preparation)
Manifestation: Engaging in Allyship
Once allies are activated, how do they engage in allyship? Building on prior work that has identified the types of behaviors that may “count” as allyship, in my second stream of work, Manifestation, I identify factors that influence which allies chose to do what behaviors to express their allyship and why. In particular, I focus on how factors of the ally, such as their emotional responses to inequity and their understanding of privilege, influence their allyship efforts.
Relevant Publications:
Jun, S., Phillips, L. T., & Foster-Gimbel, O. A. (2023). The missing middle: Asian employees’ experience of workplace discrimination and pro-Black allyship. Journal of Applied Psychology, 108(2), 225-248. Download.
Foster-Gimbel, O. A. & Phillips, L. T. The curvilinear effect of psychological discomfort on allyship. (Under Review at Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin)
Foster-Gimbel, O. A., Doyle, D. M., & Engeln, R. (2020). The Gay Community Involvement Index: An exploratory factor analysis and initial validation of a new measure of gay community involvement. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 49, 233–247. Download.
Impact: Increasing Social Equity via Allyship
What effects does allyship have on organizations? If organizations are trying to reduce inequities, do allies help accomplish these goals? In the final stage, Impact, I explore the consequences of allyship.
Relevant Publications:
Foster-Gimbel, O. A. & Phillips, L. T. “But I’m not privileged:” Privileged targets’ personal victimhood claims spillover to third parties’ perceptions of inequity. (Under Review at Journal of Personality and Social Psychology)
Foster-Gimbel, O. A. & Dupree, C. H. Going for woke: White Americans downshift conservatism in interracial settings. (Manuscript in Preparation)
Foster-Gimbel, O. A., & Engeln, R. (2016). Fat chance! Experiences and expectations of anti-fat bias in the gay male community. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, 3, 1, 63-70. Download.