2001/05/01 by Shelley J. Correll · 3 citations
Social Sciences · Psychology · #Social and Intergroup Psychology #Gender Diversity and Inequality #Cultural Differences and Values #Competence (human resources) #Perception #Psychology #Gender bias #Social psychology #Career path #Gender role #Path analysis (statistics) #Gender identity #Management #Economics
paper · doi:10.1086/321299
openalex publication_date 2001/05/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/03
This article develops a supply‐side mechanism about how cultural beliefs about gender differentially influence the early career‐relevant decisions of men and women. Cultural beliefs about gender are argued to bias individuals' perceptions of their competence at various career‐relevant tasks, controlling for actual ability. To the extent that individuals then act on gender‐differentiated perceptions when making career decisions, cultural beliefs about gender channel men and women in substantially different career directions. The hypotheses are evaluated by considering how gendered beliefs about mathematics impact individuals' assessments of their own mathematical competence, which, in turn, leads to gender differences in decisions to persist on a path toward a career in science, math, or engineering.