Social Psychological and Personality Science · 2011 · 480 citations · 70 references
Gendered PerceptionEducationSocial SciencesStem EducationGender DisparityGender IdentityGender StudiesWomen StudiesComputer Science StereotypesCareer EnhancementGendered ContextIntersectionalitySecondary Stem EducationFeminist ScienceComputer ScienceRole Model GenderFeminist TheoryGender StereotypeGender DevelopmentGender DivideGender Roles
Women who have not yet entered STEM fields tend to underestimate their potential performance, and it is commonly assumed that female role models can improve women’s beliefs about their success in STEM. The study tests the assumption that female role models improve women’s STEM success beliefs. The authors conducted two experiments manipulating role model gender and the extent to which role models embodied computer science stereotypes. The experiments found that role model gender did not affect success beliefs, but women exposed to nonstereotypical role models reported higher computer‑science success expectations, with these effects mediated by perceived dissimilarity from stereotypical role models; thus, the stereotype embodiment of role models matters more than gender in influencing women’s STEM success beliefs.
Women who have not yet entered science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields underestimate how well they will perform in those fields (e.g., Correll, 2001 ; Meece, Parsons, Kaczala, & Goff, 1982). It is commonly assumed that female role models improve women’s beliefs that they can be successful in STEM. The current work tests this assumption. Two experiments varied role model gender and whether role models embody computer science stereotypes. Role model gender had no effect on success beliefs. However, women who interacted with nonstereotypical role models believed they would be more successful in computer science than those who interacted with stereotypical role models. Differences in women’s success beliefs were mediated by their perceived dissimilarity from stereotypical role models. When attempting to convey to women that they can be successful in STEM fields, role model gender may be less important than the extent to which role models embody current STEM stereotypes.
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Reuben M. Baron, David A. Kenny · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · 1986 · 69.4K citations
Statistical Considerations, Social Psychology, Interpersonal Relationships +8