@article{ref1,
title="An emphasis on brilliance fosters masculinity-contest cultures",
journal="Psychological science",
year="2022",
author="Vial, Andrea C. and Muradoglu, Melis and Newman, George E. and Cimpian, Andrei",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="Women are underrepresented in fields in which success is believed to require brilliance, but the reasons for this pattern are poorly understood. We investigated perceptions of a &quot;masculinity-contest culture,&quot; an organizational environment of ruthless competition, as a key mechanism whereby a perceived emphasis on brilliance discourages female participation. Across three preregistered correlational and experimental studies involving adult lay participants online (N = 870) and academics from more than 30 disciplines (N = 1,347), we found a positive association between the perception that a field or an organization values brilliance and the perception that this field or organization is characterized by a masculinity-contest culture. This association was particularly strong among women. In turn, perceiving a masculinity-contest culture predicted lower interest and sense of belonging as well as stronger impostor feelings. Experimentally reducing the perception of a masculinity-contest culture eliminated gender gaps in interest and belonging in a brilliance-oriented organization, suggesting possible avenues for intervention.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0956-7976",
doi="10.1177/09567976211044133",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/09567976211044133"
}