Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Psychology

Program Name/Specialization

Social Psychology

Faculty/School

Faculty of Science

First Advisor

Mindi D. Foster

Advisor Role

Associate Professor

Second Advisor

Anne E. Wilson

Advisor Role

Committee Member

Third Advisor

Chris Alksnis

Advisor Role

Committee Member

Abstract

Disparaging remarks that female scientists are ‘Distractingly Sexy’ (Waxman, 2015) and ‘Too Pretty to Do Math’ t-shirts (Amazon.com) highlight the common belief that women in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) violate perceived gender norms. However, by confronting these beliefs, women may incur a ‘double-dose’ of hostility; once for being present in science, and again because of the confrontation itself (Kaiser & Miller, 2001). Across three studies, this research tested how women confronting sexism in STEM contexts would elicit and anticipate social costs. Study 1 showed that male participants rated a hypothetical female confronter in STEM higher in bossiness and stupidity than did female participants. Study 2 showed that female STEM majors who imagined themselves confronting (vs. ignoring) sexism in science anticipated being labelled as bossier, and perceived science as more difficult. Thus, across two studies, social and personal costs of confronting sexism were more strongly elicited and anticipated in STEM versus arts. Study 3 assessed how different sexism types and styles of confrontation influenced social and personal costs among women in STEM. As predicted, those who imagined confronting sexism with anger (vs. education, indirect, or a no confrontation control condition) anticipated the greatest social costs, while those who imagined confronting with education anticipated fewer costs than those imagining anger, but greater costs than those imagining an indirect response or inaction. Those imagining an indirect confrontation anticipated greater social costs than those who imagined ignoring sexism, but lower personal costs such as less STEM difficulty and greater STEM efficacy and identity. Findings suggest the complex nature of women’s responses to sexism, extending previous social costs literature into a scientific context.

Convocation Year

2018

Convocation Season

Fall

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