I almost regret not getting a PhD in something, anything, basket weaving; make-up application; mixology. A psychologist at the University of Nebraska instructed research assistants to give women the once over, an unsettling up-and-down assessment including staring at their breasts for a few uncomfortable seconds. Apparently acts of this nature are not just for construction workers anymore nor do you need spend several years in graduate school. Women scored lower in math when given this once over by a man in the PhD’s study group. The study did not say whether female PhD’s were used in giving female subjects the once over. Thus proving the psychologists conducting the study themselves practice stereotypical thinking.
Once reminded of a stereotypical myth like “girls are bad at math” whilst performing a math related task, the myth becomes anxiety provoking and in turn strengthens the subject’s belief in the stereotype. The phenomenon is called stereotype threat and it only took a bunch of PhD’s to prove it. Indicating other subtleties such as age, gender and socioeconomic status while completing tasks or exams could also influence the outcome.
This theory explains my almost daily occurrence of road rage using the stereotype that women are typically bad drivers. It would take nothing more than a horn honk or hand gesture for someone to react or in my case overreact to the situation. It’s perfect logic. Stereotypically women are bad drivers. I am a woman. You are provoking me. I become hostile and my driving deteriorates. We live up or down to others as well as our own expectations. However, in my case, it is the provoker who will ultimately feel the angst.
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