Michigan State University researchers suggest women should “man up” when applying for a job in a male-dominated field.
MSU researchers say gender bias is “pervasive and persistent” in many male-dominated career fields.
Often female applicants have trouble just landing a job interview.
But when they do, their own words can work against them.
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The researchers suggest a new study shows women who play up stereotypical masculine traits or "man up" during an interview may fare better at landing a job.
MSU researchers asked people to watch a video of a woman being interviewed for an engineering job. They found that women who described themselves as “assertive and independent” were seen as more fitting for the job than women who described themselves as “supportive and nurturing.”
The MSU researchers say while companies should take steps to avoid bias in the hiring process, this study may help women applying for jobs in a culture plagued by “pervasive and persistent” discrimination.
The study appears in the journal Psychology of Women Quarterly.
