Date of Paper/Work
5-2018
Type of Paper/Work
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership
Department
Organizational Leadership
First Advisor
Amy Ihlan
Second Advisor
Martha Hardesty
Third Advisor
Suzanne Otte Allen
Department/School
Organizational Leadership
Abstract
The religious landscape of the U.S. is changing drastically with an increasing number of individuals identifying as non-religious (Pew Research Center, 2014). While these individuals do not associate with a particular religion, they may be spiritual, have some religious based beliefs, or identify as atheist, agnostic, or yet another category (Baker & Smith, 2009; Cragun et al., 2012; Edgell et al., 2016). These individuals are our neighbors, friends, and family members. They are also leaders in our communities. However, U.S. society tends to have a negative perception of individuals who identify as non-religious as a person’s religious affiliation often serves as a public marker of their personal morals (Smith, 2017). With regard to leadership, this perception is important as morals play a significant role in establishing a leader as ethical and credible (Zhu et al., 2015). This study examined how individuals who identify as non-religious navigate others’ stereotypes and perceptions of their identity to establish themselves as credible leaders by reviewing the existing literature, analyzing relevant theoretical frameworks, and highlighting the experiences of individuals who identify as both non-religious and as leaders through semi-structured interviews and a focus group.
Recommended Citation
Hilger, Sarah Kruger. (2018). Navigating Perceptions and Stereotypes of Leaders who Identify as Non-Religious in the U.S.: A Qualitative Thesis Examining How Individuals who Identify as Non-Religious Navigate Stereotypes and Perceptions of their Identity to Establish Themselves as Credible Leaders. Retrieved from Sophia, the St. Catherine University repository website: https://sophia.stkate.edu/maol_theses/32