Mansplaining and More: Development and Cross-Cultural Validation of the Workplace Gender Competency Questioning Scale (WGCQS)

Abstract: Workplace Gender Competence Questioning (WGCQ) refers to subtle communication behaviors that signal doubt or diminish a woman’s competence in the workplace, including condescending explanations (i.e., mansplaining), voice nonrecognition, and intrusive interruptions. Although culturally well-known, WGCQ has received limited empirical investigation and has no existing measure. This research developed and validated the Workplace Gender Competence Questioning Scale (WGCQS) using all-women samples and extended its validation across seven different cultural contexts. Study 1 ( N = 41) qualitatively refined the construct and generated scale items. Study 2 ( N = 335) used parallel and exploratory factor analyses to examine the factor structure, and Study 3 ( N = 465) confirmed the two-factor model via confirmatory factor analyses. Study 4 ( N = 1,686) examined external validity and validated the scale across seven different cultural contexts: Italy, Brazil, the Czech Republic, Austria/Germany, Greece, Spain, and the United States. The final 11-item, two-factor scale demonstrated strong internal consistency, good model fit, and measurement invariance across countries. Evidence supported convergent, discriminant, criterion, and nomological validity, situating WGCQ meaningfully within a network of person and work-related variables. The WGCQS provides a reliable, cross-culturally validated tool to assess subtle gender discrimination and advance research on workplace gender equity.