Newsflash: Gender Bias is Still Everywhere.

[sechan19]

A friend posted a report of a fascinating study that was recently undertaken.

This study examines how the language of recommendation letters is often gendered and how this gendered language acts to the detriment of female candidates. Women apparently tend to be described in so-called communal terms ("helpful," "kind," "tactful") while men are described in agentic terms ("independent," "ambitious," "intellectual") and this difference works to preference male candidates over female. (As if they didn't already have enough of an in.)

Of course, this issue of communal language only addresses part of the problem I suspect. The application of so-called agentic language to a female candidate might not do her any favors either: assertive women are all bitches, after all.

This does go to show, though, that even among people who are supportive, and who no doubt fancy themselves patrons of equality, gender discrimination remains a subtle, insidious, and ever-present evil with which we still must contend.

Sometimes, you just can't win for losing.

Recommendation letters could cost women jobs, promotions (PHYSorg.com)

Comments

[firynze.livejournal.com]

Wow. That's fascinating, and depressing.