Behind Closed Doors: On Covert Aggression and the Abuse of Power by Women in the Workplace

Abstract

This depth psychologically oriented study utilized interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA) to explore covert aggression and abuse of power by women in the workplace in the United States. The research sought to understand if gender stereotypes might obscure female-to-female abuse in the workplace, identify social factors that might exacerbate such hostility, explore individual and interpersonal factors that might predispose women to be targets of such behavior, and utilize mind-body theories to understand this form of abuse. Ten adult females participated in semi-structured interviews describing 25 cases in which they were targets and/or witnesses of workplace bullying by predominantly women. Participants were vulnerable to being targeted for bullying after starting a new job, a management change, or after intervening against immoral behaviors that violated the wellbeing of others or the organization. Subsequently, they encountered territoriality, othering, and retaliatory actions. Targeted participants exhibited traits aligned with female and male gender stereotypes and projected prosocial behavior onto others. A recurrent theme in the participants’ narratives was idealizations, specifically of female behavior, authorities, and their capability to deal with the bully, which was amplified in the healthcare, education, or service-oriented professions where the targets worked. Participants’ accounts also emphasized the impact of prolonged, repeated, escalating bullying acts as a distinct form of psychosocial/interpersonal harm, resulting in trauma- and stress-related ailments. Further research is required to comprehend the complex interaction among gendered socialization, group dynamics, defense mechanisms, and the workplace.