Rethinking courage at work: a two-study investigation of how gender moderates the antecedents and outcomes of social courage

Purpose This study tests the implicit theory that men are more courageous than women within the Turkish cultural context and investigates how gender moderates the antecedents and consequences of workplace social courage (WSC). Design/methodology/approach We conducted two cross-sectional studies with gender as a grouping variable in multigroup structural equation models. Study 1, with 268 participants from the finance sector, examined the relationship between organizational justice (distributive, procedural and interactional) and WSC. Study 2, with 383 participants from the healthcare sector, investigated the relationships between WSC, defensive silence and job performance. Findings Across both studies, results did not confirm the implicit theory that men report higher levels of WSC than women. However, the findings revealed a consistent moderating effect of gender. Specifically, the positive impact of interactional justice on WSC was stronger for women. Conversely, the impact of WSC was more substantial for men, resulting in a greater reduction in their defensive silence and a more significant increase in their job performance. Social implications The study highlights how gender moderates courageous behavior, providing evidence that challenges gender stereotypes and promotes equality in workplace dynamics. Originality/value These findings challenge simplistic notions of gender and courage, highlighting instead the complex ways in which gender shapes the enactment and outcomes of courageous behavior in the workplace. The study contributes to theory by integrating gender as a critical moderator in the nomological network of WSC, offering practical insights for fostering a courageous and equitable work environment.