Gender Roles Under the Microscope (2024)

Despite large gains in education and credentialing over the past decades, women's advancement in STEM and healthcare professions lagged disproportionately behind men. While blatant sexism still existed, most gaps in leadership and salary arose from biases rooted in ingrained gender roles and expectations. In this talk, Dr. Amy Diehl revealed the six core dimensions of workplace gender bias that she and her team uncovered through factor analysis and qualitative research. Using this framework, she shared evidence-based strategies for shattering these barriers—benefiting both individuals and organizations.

Women remained consistently underrepresented in certain professions and academic sectors, especially in STEM. Although the healthcare workforce was predominantly female, women were notably underrepresented in leadership and the highest-paid roles. This lecture uncovered one source of this gender bias: the stereotype linking intellectual talent more with men than women. Dr. Bian presented experimental evidence supporting this theory and developmental data showing that the brilliance stereotype and its consequences took root in early childhood. She also shared findings on potential ways to address this gender gap at its developmental roots.

Despite efforts to recruit and retain more women, stark gender disparities persisted in certain STEM fields. Dr. Corinne Moss-Racusin presented experimental evidence of gender bias in STEM and its direct consequences for women’s engagement and participation. She then discussed ongoing research testing evidence-based interventions to reduce this bias. Throughout her talk, she highlighted implications for academic meritocracy, sustainable diversity, and gender parity across STEM and healthcare.

Speakers

September 26, 2024, Keynote & Panelist: Amy Diehl, PhD, President
Amy Diehl Consulting LLC - "Glass Walls: Shattering Gender Barriers in Science and Healthcare"
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Panel Discussion: "Re-defining gender roles in science and healthcare"

• Panelist: Allison Daminger, PhD, Assistant Professor of Sociology, University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Panelist: Kimberley Darey, MD, CPE, FACOG, President, Endeavor Health - Elmhurst Hospital, Vice Chair, RFUMS Board of Trustees
• Panelist: Danny Pancirer, Class of 2026, College of Health Professions, Physician Assistant Program, RFUMS
• Moderator: Susanna Calkins, PhD, Director, Nexus for Faculty Success, Associate Professor, Department of Graduate Studies, School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, RFUMS

Seminar Series

February 25, 2025: Lin Bian, PhD, The University of Chicago, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology - "Gender Stereotypes about who can be 'Brilliant': Developmental Origins, Impact, and Interventions"
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May 7, 2025: Corinne Moss-Racusin, PhD, Skidmore College, Professor, Psychology Department - "Understanding and Reducing Gender Bias in STEM and Healthcare"
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