Hosted by the Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences

Abstract:  Inequality across social groups has been a prominent global issue. Among these disparities, women’s underrepresentation in many academic fields and prestigious careers stands out as a persistent challenge. My research has identified a powerful cultural message that is in part responsible for these gender gaps: the gender brilliance stereotype associating intellectual talent with men rather than women. I will present findings showing that this stereotype emerges early in childhood and shapes gender representations. I will then discuss interventions grounded in cognitive science to unlock children’s potential, aiming to address gender disparities at their developmental roots. Overall, these findings shed light on how social inequality forms, why it persists, how it impacts development, and what can be done to uproot it. 

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