JOURNAL OF BUSINESS DIVERSITY

To Wear Hijab or Not: Muslim Women’s Perceptions of Their Healthcare Workplaces

Author(s): Terrie C. Reeves, Laila Azam

Citation: Terrie C. Reeves, Laila Azam, (2012) "To Wear Hijab or Not: Muslim Women’s Perceptions of Their Healthcare Workplaces," Journal of Business Diversity, Vol.12, Iss. 2, pp. 41 - 58

Article Type: Research paper

Publisher: North American Business Press

Abstract:

This study explored relationships among women’s choices to disclose a possibly stigmatizing religious

persuasion, and their organizational citizenship, commitment, and justice perceptions. Hijabis perceived

greater support from and were more committed to their organizations than non-hijabis; the two groups

did not differ in overall organizational justice perceptions. Multivariate analysis found that the

combination of wearing hijab, performing externally oriented citizenship behaviors, and being

organizationally committed were significantly related to a woman’s perception that her organization was

interactionally just, but not that it was distributively or procedurally just. Positive organizational

outcomes resulting from encouraging workers to disclose stigmatizing characteristics are discussed.