Hello all,
We know that stereotypes limit our ability to see others clearly, and limit our ability to effectively connect with people as individuals. So breaking through stereotypes and unmasking myths about groups of people has been a focus of research, DEI workshops, and other community-building strategies. Artists and entertainers have also contributed to showcasing the wide range of strengths that all types of people can have. Nonetheless... stereotypes exist and persist.
New research covered in the most recent Women in Academia (WIA) Report delivered some disappointing news. The summary below highlights the results, and the WIA Report contains a link for those interested in the original article citation.
"A new study led by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, in partnership with the University of Michigan, has found that people who strongly believe in gender stereotypes about intelligence are more likely to dismiss brilliant women characters as unrealistic, even when the characters are based on real people. A similar result was found among people who endorse racial stereotypes regarding intelligence."
Their research outcomes showed that "participants who strongly believed in gender or racial intelligence stereotypes were less likely to perceive White women, Black women, and Black men protagonists as believable geniuses, compared to White men actors, even when these characters were based on real-life stories."
"According to the authors, prior studies have found counter-stereotypical characters in entertainment media can positively affect viewers’ perceptions of marginalized communities. However, they argue these new findings suggest that strongly held gender and racial biases may undermine the potential for character portrayals to positively impact viewers’ attitudes and beliefs."
My takeaway is that as disappointing as this might be (it was a fairly large study with 1,000 participants), a realistic view of human nature would take this in stride. Strongly held beliefs are hard to shake. Entertaining portrayals of stereotype-breaking people are probably not sufficient, just as the research found. That simply means we have to continue regularly disputing these stereotypes and pointing to counter examples in order to continue our progress towards inclusive equality. Every time one of us lifts up and acknowledges excellence in our WIT colleagues, we help shake those harmful beliefs. So keep doing what you are doing!
All the best,
Holly
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