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When women look at tech companies and math departments, they see few women. This activates the stereotype that women aren’t good at math. The stereotype… Is t
by cantastoria 14y ago
When women look at tech companies and math departments, they see few women. This activates the stereotype that women aren’t good at math. The stereotype…
Is there any evidence that this is what actually happens? Are all women carrying around these stereotypes with them? It just seems like a "just so" explanation.
Most of the examples in this article aren't of stereotype threat, they're examples of the authors' insecurity and social anxiety about being in tech. I can understand how a women would feel uncomfortable working in large groups
of, what are generally socially inept, geeks but that seems like a different
problem. This was the money-quote for me:
I remember one instance in particular when I was feeling particularly isolated at our company. “I feel like an outsider! Like the guys don’t want me here because I’m a woman!” I whined to one of my male colleagues. He looked at me and replied, “Well that’s dumb. Of course they want you here. You’re great to work with.”
So essentially this woman has a self-confidence issue. I see little evidence from this article (and the NPR one) that these problems, to the extent that they exist, are just run-of-the-mill social anxiety and nothing more.
- bct 14y agoThe article links the wikipedia page on stereotype threat http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereotype_threat http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereotype_threat , which has plenty of references to studies demonstrating how this differs from other types of anxiety.
- cantastoria 14y agoThat it does, but my argument is that that what the author experienced isn't stereotype threat. The effects of stereotype threat are (supposedly) manifested in a decrease in performance. Feeling excluded or thinking (in this case unjustifiably) that you're not wanted isn't due to stereotype threat. If the author was failing her courses or was under performing at work that would (potentially) be a result of stereotype threat. I see no evidence either occurred, she was getting As in her classes and from what I gather was able to get and keep jobs in the software industry. She's just seems unable to cope with being the only woman in the room .
- demewmew 14y agoIn my experience the decrease in performance can be felt both short-term (the classic example of students taking a standardized test) and long-term. It also doesn't necessarily mean that someone is doing poorly - they may just be aware that they're not performing at their potential.
- cantastoria 14y agoIf someone is consciously aware they are not performing at their potential and continue to do so, I find it hard to lay the blame at the feet of stereotype threat. No? It sounds like they're either misjudging their potential or just being lazy.