The interplay of gendered identities and employees perception of organizational citizenship behavior

PurposeDrawing from the gender schema theory and social role theory, the purpose of this study is to assess the gender-congruent nature of organizational citizenship behaviors (OCBs) through the mediating role of gender role orientation (femininity and masculinity) in the relationship between individuals sex and OCB dimensions. It also explores the moderating effect of gender ideology on the influence of sex on the exhibition of gender-congruent OCBs.Design/methodology/approachData were collected in two waves with a time lag of three weeks from frontline employees and their peers working in the Indian private banking sector. PROCESS macro was used to assess the hypothesized relationships.FindingsThe results indicated that femininity mediated the influence of sex on OCBs directed toward co-workers (OCBI). However, the mediating role of femininity was not confirmed in the association between sex and OCBs targeted toward customers (OCBC). Further, masculinity mediated the influence of sex on OCBs directed toward the organization (OCBO). Gender ideology also moderated the relationship between sex and OCBs, such that traditional women displayed more OCBI as compared to egalitarian women, while egalitarian women displayed more OCBC than traditional women. Additionally, traditional men were found to display more OCBO than egalitarian men.Originality/valueThe paper contributes to the existing literature by suggesting that the performance of OCBs depends upon various gender identities, with each gender identity having its own and significant effect on the performance of OCB.