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Academic achievement is influenced by how pupils 'do' gender at school

A new study by the University of Cambridge suggests that pupils' attainment is linked to their ideas about what it means to be male or female. Those who defy traditional gender stereotypes appear to do better in the classroom. The researchers found strong correlations between specific gender profiles and patterns of engagement, motivat...

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalJournal of Youth and Adolescence·DateJul 30, 2020

Men 'less supportive' in more egalitarian nations

A new 42-country study reveals that men in more gender-equal societies are less likely to support women's causes and are more likely to hold hostile sexist attitudes. The research suggests that 'zero-sum' thinking, where gains for women equate to losses for men, is a significant barrier to achieving gender harmony.

SourceAnglia Ruskin University·JournalEuropean Journal of Social Psychology·DateJul 23, 2020

Gender differences in prosecution of police assault in Sweden

A study published in PLOS ONE found that female prosecutors in Sweden are 16 percentage points more likely to investigate police assault claims than their male counterparts. This difference was observed despite the prosecutors being randomly assigned to cases and having similar characteristics.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJul 22, 2020

Black women often ignored by social justice movements

A study published by the American Psychological Association found that Black women are often viewed as more similar to Black men than to white women, leading to their exclusion from anti-racist and feminist movements. This 'intersectional invisibility' can result in Black women facing higher rates of police abuses and domestic violence.

SourceAmerican Psychological Association·JournalTranslational Issues in Psychological Science·DateJul 13, 2020

Men more likely than women to be seen as brilliant

A new global study found that an unconscious stereotype links men to brilliance, hindering women's career advancement in prestigious fields. The research used the Implicit Association Test to measure implicit biases, revealing a strong association between brilliance and masculinity.

SourceNew York University·JournalJournal of Experimental Social Psychology·DateJul 2, 2020

Sexist views on education within families affect future academic choices

A study by UOC researchers found that sexist views within families can impact academic decisions, with girls more likely to confront sexism and seek help, while boys tend to avoid it. The study also highlights the importance of educating both boys and girls on equality and dealing with sexism.

SourceUniversitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC)·JournalInternational Journal of Social Psychology Revista de Psicología Social·DateJun 26, 2020

Weird science

A new study found that primary school students' perceptions of science and scientists are influenced by media stereotypes, with many feeling that a career in science is too difficult or high-pressure. Despite this, most students do not see gender as a barrier to becoming a scientist, showing progress in normalizing women in STEM.

SourceUniversity of South Australia·JournalInternational Journal of Inclusive Education·DateJun 8, 2020

Gender gap in postsecondary education

Research by Gijsbert Stoet and David Geary found that men are less likely to pursue tertiary education due to weaker reading abilities and negative attitudes towards women attending college. The study analyzed data from 18 countries, predicting a significant drop in male representation if discriminatory attitudes were eliminated.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 8, 2020

Preliminary Criterion scores do not help counteract racial gap in NIH grant awards

A new study finds that preliminary criterion scores do not mitigate racial disparities in NIH grant awards, with black investigators receiving worse scores on all five criteria. The study reveals substantial funding gaps between black and white applicants, with black PIs award probability only 55% of their white counterparts.

Age, gender and culture 'predict loneliness'

A global study involving over 46,000 participants found that younger people report greater feelings of loneliness than older adults. The study also revealed cultural differences in loneliness levels, with individuals in collectivist societies experiencing lower levels of loneliness.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalPersonality and Individual Differences·DateMay 27, 2020

Study uncovers gender roles in physics lab courses

A Cornell University study finds that inquiry-based physics labs, designed to encourage student agency, actually contain gender imbalances and biases when compared to traditional, highly structured labs. The researchers analyzed student behavior in two types of labs and found that men and women take on different roles within groups.

SourceCornell University·JournalPhysics Education Research Journal·DateMay 27, 2020

Same father, same face

A team of scientists used artificial intelligence to examine whether mandrills' facial features are a result of genetic similarity or selection. They found that half-sisters with the same father exhibit stronger facial resemblance, indicating a possible evolutionary mechanism for social discrimination and nepotism among kin.

Women quotas in politics have unintended consequences

A study by University of Rochester researchers found that women quotas in India's local government elections led to a reduction in the representation of lower caste groups, while increasing the representation of Hindu upper castes. The quota policy aimed to increase female representation but ultimately had unintended consequences.

SourceUniversity of Rochester·JournalAmerican Journal of Political Science·DateMay 21, 2020

Women told more white lies in evaluations than men: Study

New research by Cornell University reveals that women are more likely to be given inaccurate performance feedback, with underperforming women receiving less truthful but kinder feedback compared to equally underperforming men. This finding highlights a potential obstacle to equality in the workplace.

SourceCornell University·JournalPersonality and Social Psychology Bulletin·DateMay 19, 2020

Examining health insurance nondiscrimination policies with mental health among gender minority individuals

Researchers analyzed a large private health insurance database to investigate the association between health insurance nondiscrimination policies and mental health outcomes in gender minority individuals. The study found significant disparities in access to mental health care and treatment, highlighting the need for policy changes.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Psychiatry·DateMay 6, 2020

Gender gap in test scores

A study analyzing 2,646,550 college entrance tests in Chile found that removing a penalty for incorrect answers narrowed the gender gap in test scores, particularly among high-performing students in some STEM fields. This policy change also reduced the gender gap in the number of questions skipped.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 6, 2020

Men pose more risk to other road users than women

A recent study published in Injury Prevention journal reveals that men are more likely to drive dangerous vehicles and pose a higher risk to other road users. The researchers suggest that greater gender equity in road transport jobs could help lessen these risks.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalInjury Prevention·DateApr 6, 2020

Progress of gender revolution

Despite improved measures of gender equality since 1970, recent decades have seen stalled progress, with some gaps widening. Women now outpace men in higher education and certain occupations, but overall trends suggest a need for cultural and institutional shifts to address remaining disparities.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 30, 2020

The Lancet Public Health: Access to identification documents reflecting gender identity may improve trans mental health

A study of over 20,000 American trans adults found that having access to identification documents reflecting their identified gender is associated with reduced psychological distress and lower rates of suicidal thoughts. The authors suggest policy changes to increase access to gender-concordant IDs, including reducing fees and administ...

SourceThe Lancet·JournalThe Lancet Public Health·DateMar 16, 2020

Male privilege

A study by HSE University researchers found that men reap more benefits than women from additional job-related training, leading to a stronger sense of control over their lives. This disparity is attributed to societal perceptions of masculinity, with 'male' skills like leadership and physical endurance being valued more highly.

SourceNational Research University Higher School of Economics·JournalInternational Journal of Lifelong Education·DateMar 5, 2020

Do girls read better than boys? If so, gender stereotypes may be to blame

A longitudinal study in Germany found that classmates' gender stereotypes have a negative effect on boys' reading outcomes, including lower motivation and achievement. In contrast, girls experienced positive effects from their classmates' stereotypes. The study suggests that reducing stereotypical behaviors in classrooms can help creat...

SourceSociety for Research in Child Development·JournalChild Development·DateFeb 26, 2020

Hubble turns lens towards gender bias, yielding lessons for Earthlings

Researchers analyzed 16 application cycles for Hubble Space Telescope time allocations and found that stripping out personal info can nearly eliminate gender bias. Female lead scientists performed slightly better than men when proposals were completely anonymized, indicating a more equitable review process.

SourceUniversity of Colorado at Boulder·JournalPublications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific·DateFeb 18, 2020