SS77 - Risk Taking in Response to Gender Identity Threat
SCURS Disciplines
Psychology
Document Type
General Poster
Invited Presentation Choice
Not Applicable
Abstract
Higher risk taking and assertiveness are two traits associated with men (Mazei, Bear, & Huffmeier, 2023) This association has been linked to gaps in pay and authority between genders/sexes (Bowles, Mazei, & Liu, 2025), explained by stereotype threat. They proposed a framework explaining how gender differences in risk-taking can be examined situationally. There are several studies addressing stereotype threat more specifically, masculinity threat and very few addressing femininity threat. This reflects a gap in our understanding of stereotype threats and how they are impacted by the constraints of the binary gender model. In this study, I hypothesize that the introduction of femininity threat in female dominated spaces will result in significant increases in risky decision making, and assertiveness. This study supports the idea that these traits aren’t inherently masculine and are socialized. Some limitations of the study include research bias, and the limited operationalization of femininity. Further studies should examine ways femininity and masculinity are socialized, and how this could impact different aspects of everyday decision making. It also has been proven that there are higher rates of depression and anxiety worldwide amongst women compared to men, due to their tendency to internalize mental distress. (Cockerham 2024). Further examination of femininity threat could broaden knowledge of ways we are impacted by threats to our identities.
Keywords
Risk taking, gender identity, assertiveness, threat
Start Date
10-4-2026 9:30 AM
Location
University Readiness Center Greatroom
End Date
10-4-2026 11:30 AM
SS77 - Risk Taking in Response to Gender Identity Threat
University Readiness Center Greatroom
Higher risk taking and assertiveness are two traits associated with men (Mazei, Bear, & Huffmeier, 2023) This association has been linked to gaps in pay and authority between genders/sexes (Bowles, Mazei, & Liu, 2025), explained by stereotype threat. They proposed a framework explaining how gender differences in risk-taking can be examined situationally. There are several studies addressing stereotype threat more specifically, masculinity threat and very few addressing femininity threat. This reflects a gap in our understanding of stereotype threats and how they are impacted by the constraints of the binary gender model. In this study, I hypothesize that the introduction of femininity threat in female dominated spaces will result in significant increases in risky decision making, and assertiveness. This study supports the idea that these traits aren’t inherently masculine and are socialized. Some limitations of the study include research bias, and the limited operationalization of femininity. Further studies should examine ways femininity and masculinity are socialized, and how this could impact different aspects of everyday decision making. It also has been proven that there are higher rates of depression and anxiety worldwide amongst women compared to men, due to their tendency to internalize mental distress. (Cockerham 2024). Further examination of femininity threat could broaden knowledge of ways we are impacted by threats to our identities.