Abstract
A number of high-profile Gender Equality Initiatives (GEIs) aim to address women’s
underrepresentation in science. However, attitudes towards such initiatives can be negative.
Two experiments with STEM academics examined how GEIs can be best framed to improve
attitudes towards them. Study 1 (N=113) manipulated the framing of GEI leadership (led by a
man or woman) and GEI focus (benefitting men and women, or women only). Men were
more supportive of GEIs benefitting both men and women due to fewer concerns of unfair
treatment and more internal motivations to engage with GEIs. Women’s level of support was
unaffected by framing. Study 2 (N=151) framed GEIs as either supported by university
management or not, and either internally or externally driven. Support was greater for
internally driven GEIs. The impact of management support depended on academics’
experience with GEIs. This research makes evidence-based recommendations for the
implementation of GEIs to improve their effectiveness.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | biaa136 |
| Pages (from-to) | 292 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Journal | BioScience |
| Volume | 71 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| Early online date | 02 Dec 2020 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Early online date - 02 Dec 2020 |
Access to Document
- When You Put it that Way: Framing Gender Equality Initiatives to Improve Engagement among STEM Academics
© 2020 The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Institute of Biological Sciences. This work is made available online in accordance with the publisher’s policies. Please refer to any applicable terms of use of the publisher.
