Inside the prism of an invisible threat: Shining a light on the hidden work of contending with systemic stereotype threat in STEM fields

• Published in: Journal of vocational behavior 2019-08, Vol.113, p.33-50
• Main Authors: Block, Caryn J., Cruz, Mateo, Bairley, Maura, Harel-Marian, Taly, Roberson, Loriann
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: (In)visibility; Gender differences; Sex discrimination; STEM education; STEM professions; Stereotype threat; Stereotypes; Threats; Women; Women in STEM
• ISSN: 0001-8791; 1095-9084
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jvb.2018.09.007

The purpose of the present research was to understand how individuals navigate careers in professional contexts that are infused with systemic stereotype threat. Systemic stereotype threat occurs when an individual is in a system that is characterized by gender or racial disparities and the implicit belief about the reason for these disparities is stereotypes about the deficits of women or people of color, rather than systemic inequalities. We conducted in-depth interviews with 26 women scientists in a top-tier academic research institution, a context that is steeped in negative stereotypes about women's ability and commitment as a reason for their underrepresentation. Stereotype threatening systems create the conditions for women scientists to experience heightened visibility due to their gender and heightened invisibility of the characteristics that make them successful scientists. We found that the strategies that women use to navigate in stereotype-threatening systems were patterned based on the goals that women had for managing their (in)visibility and that these goals were based on their understanding of the reasons for their underrepresentation in STEM fields. The three response patterns that emerged were: Fending Off the Threat; Confronting the Threat; and Sustaining Self in the Presence of the Threat. The importance of understanding the variety of strategies that individuals use to manage (in)visibility while working in stereotype-threatening systems is discussed. •We identified 3 response patterns that women used to contend with systemic stereotype threat.•They were: Fending Off Threat; Confronting Threat and Sustaining Self in the Presence of Threat.•Response patterns were based on the goals women had for managing their (in)visibility in a stereotype threatening system.