“Hardworking, but not talented”: Men think they are more talented than women

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The idea of ​​the innate male ‘genius’ still defines who we consider exceptional today. In our culture, however, women’s intellectual success is seen more as a result of their enthusiasm. “Women are more likely to be praised as ‘hardworking’ and less as ‘smart’; that is often said of boys,” said research leader Christina Bauer to the Austrian news agency APA.

This external image has fatal consequences for women’s self-image, especially for people from a low socio-economic background. “In general, girls think they are less talented than boys,” says Bauer, “even when comparing two people with the same grades.” Previous studies have also shown this.

Their new research, published in the journal ‘Learning and Instruction’, involving a total of 1,600 students in Germany and the US, has now also shown that this is twice as true for women from lower socio-economic backgrounds.

Of all subgroups in the study, women from lower socio-economic backgrounds rated themselves as least talented. Men with high socio-economic status consider themselves the most talented.

“When it comes to things like hard work and willingness to make an effort, which are certainly important things, women definitely have self-confidence,” says Bauer. “They also see themselves as powerful, but they don’t see themselves as geniuses or talented.” This distorted personal assessment means that women in particular, who are already socially disadvantaged, have fewer chances of success.

For example, women with a low socio-economic status feel less comfortable in areas where talent is expected, have less confidence in themselves and therefore contribute less. This applies, for example, to the MINT area (mathematics, computer science, natural sciences and technology) or hobbies such as chess.

(SDA)

Source:Blick