Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

Two Steps Forward, One Step Back: Effects of Skin Tone and Cross-Platform Self- Presentation on Evaluations of Black Job Applicants

White, Tiffany N.
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5670-3421
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1500574106470159

Abstract Details

2017, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Communication.
Colorism, or skin tone discrimination, manifests in the form of a general denigration of dark-skinned individuals. Black Americans, who are only one of many groups affected by this international bias, are impacted in many ways, but its influence in the realm of employment is of particular consequence to day-to-day existence. Modern technology, such as social network(ing) sites (SNSs), has amended facets of the employment process, granting employers access to an abundance of online applicant data; however, the array of information located online and the many self-presentation options available via SNSs could hurt the job prospects of Black applicants. As such, the current study investigates the effect of skin tone and cross-platform self-presentation upon evaluations of Black employability utilizing the theory of uncertainty reduction. An online experiment using a 2 (applicant skin tone: dark vs. light) x 2 (applicant sex: male vs. female) x 3 (cross-platform congruency: congruent, incongruent, control) between-subjects design was conducted with a sample of 757 Whites. Each participant was told to evaluate the applicant according to the materials provided (resume, LinkedIn profile, and Facebook posts). Results indicated that skin tone and congruency impact evaluations of Black applicants. Both dark-skinned applicants and applicants with incongruent self-presentations across Facebook and LinkedIn were evaluated less favorably concerning certainty, perceived job suitability, perceived hireability, and salary deserved. The implications of these results and limitations are discussed therein.
Roselyn J. Lee-Won (Advisor)
Osei Appiah (Committee Member)
David R. Ewoldsen (Committee Member)
Lanier F. Holt (Committee Member)
131 p.
Communication
Colorism; self-presentation; social network and networking sites; congruency; uncertainty reduction; Black Americans; employment

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • White, T. N. (2017). Two Steps Forward, One Step Back: Effects of Skin Tone and Cross-Platform Self- Presentation on Evaluations of Black Job Applicants [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1500574106470159

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • White, Tiffany. Two Steps Forward, One Step Back: Effects of Skin Tone and Cross-Platform Self- Presentation on Evaluations of Black Job Applicants. 2017. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1500574106470159.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • White, Tiffany. "Two Steps Forward, One Step Back: Effects of Skin Tone and Cross-Platform Self- Presentation on Evaluations of Black Job Applicants." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1500574106470159

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1500574106470159
46
© 2017, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.