Women from poorer backgrounds often think they’re not as talented as others, even if they perform just as well. This misunderstanding makes it tougher for them in areas like STEM, where talent is a big deal.
The University of Vienna did some research and found ways to tackle this problem. Women and people from low-income backgrounds often face unfair judgments, being seen as less talented, leading to discrimination.
“While a man with very good grades is more likely to be judged as a genius, women with the same achievements are more likely to be seen as hard-working, for example,” the authors explain.
Less capable
Folks from families with lower incomes are often thought to be less capable. Researchers explored how this social view impacts these individuals’ self-esteem and shapes their life paths.
They did two studies with 1,600 students in Germany and the U.S. Among all the groups, women from lower-income backgrounds considered themselves the least talented, even if they performed as well as everyone else in their studies.
“Our conclusion: Society’s external image and social hierarchies also have a very strong influence on self-image,” the researchers explain.
Unfair consequences
The researchers found that this socialized distortion of self-perception has significant consequences, as women often have less self-confidence.
“This reduces their chances of success and means that some industries and areas of society are very one-sidedly male-dominated and not very diverse,” they explain.
For instance, this is evident in areas where talent is expected, as women from lower socio-economic backgrounds can suffer from low self-confidence, which affects the contributions they make. This can be especially problematic in areas like STEM and management consultancy.
Fixing the problem
The authors also propose some solutions. In an earlier experiment they conducted, they found that women with lower incomes didn’t see themselves as less hardworking. However, in this recent study, they found that these women viewed themselves as less talented. To address these challenges, one approach could be to emphasize the social importance of qualities like diligence and hard work rather than just talent.
“This recognition can take place on different levels: How we talk about high achievers—instead of praising geniuses, and looking down on ‘nerds,’ appreciating people for their hard work,” they explain. “Or how we give feedback—constructive feedback that makes it clear how people can improve, rather than just praise or criticism without a development perspective.”
They plan to further explore why this distorted self-image occurs in future studies, and they believe that stereotypes are likely to play a significant role.
