Cited by 225Diversity and Career in MedicineGender Diversity and InequalityCareer Development and Diversity

Does stereotype threat affect women in academic medicine?

Open access
Burgess, Diana Jill, Joseph, Anne, van Ryn, Michelle, Carnes, Molly·2012·Academic Medicine

Abstract

Multiple complex factors contribute to the slow pace of women's advancement into leadership positions in academic medicine. In this article, the authors propose that stereotype threat--under which individuals who are members of a group characterized by negative stereotypes in a particular domain perform below their actual abilities in that domain when group membership is emphasized--may play an important role in the underrepresentation of women in leadership positions in academic medicine. Research to objectively assess the impact of stereotype threat for women in academic medicine is feasible and necessary to confirm this hypothesis. Still, a number of conditions present in the academic medicine community today have been shown to trigger stereotype threat in other settings, and stereotype threat fits with existing research on gender in academic medicine. In the meantime, academic health centers should implement relatively simple measures supported by experimental evidence from other settings to reduce the risk of stereotype threat, including (1) introducing the concept of stereotype threat to the academic medicine community, (2) engaging all stakeholders, male and female, to promote identity safety by enacting and making faculty aware of policies to monitor potential instances of discrimination, and training faculty to provide performance feedback that is free of gender bias, (3) counteracting the effects of sex segregation at academic health centers by increasing exposure to successful female leaders, (4) reducing gender stereotype priming by avoiding stereotypically male criteria for promotion, grants, and awards, and (5) building leadership efficacy among female physicians and scientists.

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  • Stereotype-based expectations of inferiority can be threatening to women and can contribute to the shortage of female leaders across diverse occupations.

    “These stereotype-based expectations of inferiority can be threatening to women and can contribute to the shortage of female leaders across diverse occupations (Block, Koch, Liberman, Merriweather, & Roberson, 2011) from the law (Vault/MCCA, 2013) to academic medicine (Burgess, Joseph, van Ryn, & Carnes, 2012).”

    From Managing to clear the air: Stereotype threat, women, and leadership (2016) · cites this paper as Burgess, Joseph, van Ryn, & Carnes, 2012

  • After removing the emphasis on risk-taking from the selection criteria for the NIH Director's Pioneer Award, there was a marked increase in the number of female scientists who applied for and won the award.

    “In a vivid example of this, after removing the emphasis on risk-taking from the selection criteria for the prestigious National Institutes of Health Director's Pioneer Award, there was a marked increase in the number of female scientists who applied for and won the award (Burgess et al., 2012;Carnes, Geller, Fine, Sheridan, & Handelsman, 2005).”

    From Managing to clear the air: Stereotype threat, women, and leadership (2016) · cites this paper as Burgess et al., 2012

  • A reduction in stereotype threat has been credited as one contributor to the increase in female scientists applying for and winning the NIH Director's Pioneer Award.

    “A reduction in stereotype threat has been credited as one contributor to this increase (Burgess et al., 2012).”

    From Managing to clear the air: Stereotype threat, women, and leadership (2016) · cites this paper as Burgess et al., 2012

  • Programs for reducing stereotype threat typically focus on modifying the context and/or lessening individual reactions.

    “Programs for reducing stereotype threat typically focus on modifying the context and/or lessening individual reactions (Block et al., 2011;Burgess et al., 2012;Kray & Shirako, 2011;Roberson & Kulik, 2007).”

    From Managing to clear the air: Stereotype threat, women, and leadership (2016) · cites this paper as Burgess et al., 2012

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1 of the 66 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.

Research works printed but not linked: 3

  1. [1]Spencer SJ Steele CM Quinn DM Stereotype threat and womens math performance Journal of Experimental Social Psychology 1999 35 4 28
  2. [41]Sekaquaptewa D Thompson M Solo status, stereotype threat, and performance expectancies: Their effects on womens performance Journal of Experimental and Social Psychology 2003 39 68 74
  3. [61]Marx DM Roman JS Female role models: Protecting womens math test performance Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin 2002 28 1183 1193

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Authors
Burgess, D. J., Joseph, A., van Ryn, M., & Carnes, M.
Affiliations
Minneapolis VA Health Care System (US)
Corresponding author
Burgess, Diana Jill
Venue
Academic Medicine
Published
2012-04
Volume
87
Issue
4
Pages
506-512
ISSN
1040-2446 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2002021389
Cited by
225
References
66
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 69 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 17 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 3
FWCI
21.05
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Academic Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (R01HL085631)
  • National Institute of General Medical Sciences (DP4GM096822, R01GM088477)
  • National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (DP4 GM096822)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Diversity and Career in Medicine
  • Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Gender Diversity and Inequality
  • Social Sciences › Safety Research › Career Development and Diversity
Keywords
stereotype threat, women in academic medicine, gender equity, underrepresentation of women, sex segregation, leadership effectiveness, academic medical centers, anti-discrimination policy
MeSH terms
Academic Medical Centers, Achievement, Faculty, Medical, Female, Humans, Leadership, Male, Physicians, Women, Prejudice, Stereotyping, Women's Rights

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