I'm like 8 posts behind but oh well.
It was an experiment that the professor (Frank Flynn) performed in his business classes, here is a link to where he talks more about the "Heidi Roizen case":
http://www.gsb.stanford.edu/stanford-gsb-experience/news-history/gender-related-material-new-core-curriculum
I think he first performed it in 2003, and it's been performed many times since then, with more favorable results. But it's one of the most famous examples people mention when gender bias comes up.
But if you want to read some research papers on gender bias in leadership, here's a few:
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0749597806000677
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11199-011-0012-7
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1048984303000584
There's a difference between overt sexism and unconscious gender bias. It's something you can't control, it's a subconscious reaction, but it can be trained by being more aware of your judgments. The problem is when you use that subconscious reaction as the basis for a judgment that you wouldn't have made for the opposite gender.
I agree with windy that it's less of an issue than a lot of people make it out to be. But you can't dismiss it as a myth or something that doesn't exist. I work in a mostly male-dominated field, and I've been fortunate to not have seen much gender bias in the workplace. I even get paid significantly a lot more than my husband (who is also an engineer).
But occasionally I'll see glimpses of subtle gender bias. Example: "Every woman [program manager] in this organization, you really don't want to piss her off." This was at a table full of male engineers (plus me) and they all agreed. Really? But it's okay to piss off the men? It's not a particularly demeaning comment, but this comment just interested me because it not only shows how people perceive women leaders, but possibly the personality traits required for a woman to gain leadership positions.
Anyways. A lot of issues raised on gender discrimination are blown out of proportion. But there is a tiny bit of truth at the heart of it and these issues should not be dismissed as not real.
Quote from: Neobaron on August 16, 2016, 09:56:03 AM
do you have a link to the actual study?
It was an experiment that the professor (Frank Flynn) performed in his business classes, here is a link to where he talks more about the "Heidi Roizen case":
http://www.gsb.stanford.edu/stanford-gsb-experience/news-history/gender-related-material-new-core-curriculum
I think he first performed it in 2003, and it's been performed many times since then, with more favorable results. But it's one of the most famous examples people mention when gender bias comes up.
But if you want to read some research papers on gender bias in leadership, here's a few:
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0749597806000677
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11199-011-0012-7
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1048984303000584
There's a difference between overt sexism and unconscious gender bias. It's something you can't control, it's a subconscious reaction, but it can be trained by being more aware of your judgments. The problem is when you use that subconscious reaction as the basis for a judgment that you wouldn't have made for the opposite gender.
I agree with windy that it's less of an issue than a lot of people make it out to be. But you can't dismiss it as a myth or something that doesn't exist. I work in a mostly male-dominated field, and I've been fortunate to not have seen much gender bias in the workplace. I even get paid significantly a lot more than my husband (who is also an engineer).
But occasionally I'll see glimpses of subtle gender bias. Example: "Every woman [program manager] in this organization, you really don't want to piss her off." This was at a table full of male engineers (plus me) and they all agreed. Really? But it's okay to piss off the men? It's not a particularly demeaning comment, but this comment just interested me because it not only shows how people perceive women leaders, but possibly the personality traits required for a woman to gain leadership positions.
Anyways. A lot of issues raised on gender discrimination are blown out of proportion. But there is a tiny bit of truth at the heart of it and these issues should not be dismissed as not real.