Our well intentions towards gender equality do not always translate when we speak. Researchers from Standford’s Department of Psychology systematically investigated it.
The study ““Girls are as good as boys at math” implies that boys are probably better: A study of expressions of gender equality” by Prof. Chestnut and team investigates how different statements about gender equality can influence people’s perceptions of gender differences. Specifically, the study examines how the statement “Girls are as good as boys at math” can inadvertently reinforce the stereotype that boys are better at math.
The study was conducted using a series of experiments in which participants were presented with different statements about gender equality and then asked to rate their agreement with various statements about gender differences. The results of the study showed that the statement “Girls are as good as boys at math” led to a stronger association between being male and being good at math, even though the statement was intended to convey gender equality.
The study also found that the use of the word “as” in the statement may have contributed to this effect, as it can be interpreted as suggesting that there is still a gender difference in math ability, with boys being the standard against which girls are being compared. In contrast, when participants were presented with a statement that simply said, “Girls are good at math,” without any comparison to boys, there was no increase in the association between being male and being good at math.
The authors suggest that these findings have important implications for how we talk about gender equality and the messages that we send to children. They argue that statements about gender equality should avoid making comparisons between boys and girls, as this can inadvertently reinforce stereotypes and biases.
This study provides important insights into the ways in which language can influence our perceptions of gender and gender differences. By being mindful of the language we use when talking about gender equality, we can work to break down stereotypes and promote a more equitable society
For a detailed account read the original paper.
Chestnut, E. K., & Markman, E. M. (2018). “Girls are as good as boys at math” implies that boys are probably better: A study of expressions of gender equality. Cognitive science, 42(7), 2229-2249.
