Abstract
Research on gender discrimination has mainly adopted a two-dimensions model of social judgement, focusing on the attribution of competence/agency and warmth/ communion, neglecting that the picture of gender stereotypes might be more complex. Along this line, Moscatelli et al. (2020) have demonstrated that competence is the key dimension in evaluations of men, whereas multiple criteria are important in evaluating women. Such tendency has been named “Perfection Bias”. Women are also at risk of being targeted by discrimination especially when they enact leadership roles as they stand in contrast to stereotypes of women as "soft and communal" whereas the stereotype of leader relies on being "hard and competent" (Eagly & Karau, 2002). Variations in stereotype endorsement can be strongly moderated by epistemic motivations which can enhance such prejudicial tendencies. In front of these discriminatory tendencies is there anything that can be investigated and understood in order to counteract the status quo? Collective action aimed to reduce gender discrimination can be a means of social change, especially when it may involve radical and moderate group of people such as feminists and women at large. In the light of these premises the project addresses four aims: AIM 1: To unveil processes and factors underlying the perfection bias when evaluating women in the workplace and strengthen the evidence on such tendency through multiple methods. AIM 2: To address factors and moderators underlying discrimination toward women in leadership positions. AIM 3: To address optimal conditions leading to social change of discrimination toward women, especially in relation to job opportunities. AIM 4: Scientific dissemination of the findings. The aims of the project will be jointly accomplished by the research unit of Bologna that coordinate the project and the unit of Roma. In the light of the set aims the project can contribute to advance the literature on gender inequalities by addressing the perfection bias and its underlying processes. It will also contribute to understand the role of epistemic motivations and other individual characteristics such as right-wing authoritarianism and social dominance orientation in enhancing gender inequalities. As for collective action, the project will advance the knowledge of the antecedents of women’s fight for gender equality by looking at the interplay of identification with women and feminists by investigating the possible benefits of different forms of intergroup contact between the two groups.
Dettagli del progetto
Responsabile scientifico: Monica Rubini
Strutture Unibo coinvolte:
Dipartimento di Psicologia "Renzo Canestrari"
Coordinatore:
ALMA MATER STUDIORUM - Università di Bologna(Italy)
Contributo totale di progetto: Euro (EUR) 202.038,00
Contributo totale Unibo: Euro (EUR) 110.520,00
Durata del progetto in mesi: 24
Data di inizio
15/10/2023
Data di fine:
28/02/2026
