A study suggests that self-confidence, shaped by cultural beliefs, may be a key factor influencing the gender pay gap among some graduates in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. In several STEM fields, women earn less than men. To uncover potential causes of the gender pay gap, Adina Sterling and colleagues used a three-wave survey funded by the US National Science Foundation and analyzed data pertaining to 559 engineering and computer science students--195 female and 364 male--who had graduated from 27 institutions in the United States between 2015 and 2017. The analysis suggested that self-efficacy, defined as self-confidence in following a course of action to achieve a goal, is a crucial factor associated with the pay gap, in contrast to hypotheses that women are socialized to expect less pay or that women will accept less pay for a workplace culture that they perceive as favorable. The authors report that on average women in entry-level engineering and computer science jobs were paid less than their male counterparts. On average, women in the sample who graduated with engineering degrees earned less than $61,000 annually, whereas men earned above $65,000 annually. Women displayed relatively lower levels of self-efficacy, which may not only influence pay but also their rate of entry into certain STEM fields. The authors suggest that cultural beliefs about the appropriateness of men and women for certain STEM professions may influence beliefs about self-efficacy. Thus, the findings suggest that efforts to strengthen students' self-assessment before they enter the engineering and computer science workforce, as well as career guidance and internships, could help address the gender pay gap. Additionally, employers should consider hiring practices that deemphasize candidates' self-confidence as a potential indicator of job success, according to the authors.
ARTICLE #20-10269: "The confidence gap predicts the gender pay gap among STEM graduates," by Adina Sterling et al.
MEDIA CONTACT: Adina Sterling, Stanford University, CA; e-mail: adinad@stanford.edu
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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences