Masculinity, femininity, and women scientists' self-esteem and self-acceptance

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Sociology of Science
• Gender Studies

Background:

• Women scientists are considered a unique demographic.
• Previous literature suggests potential differences in psychological attributes among women in STEM.
• Understanding these differences is crucial for addressing gender disparities and fostering inclusivity in scientific fields.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate differences in self-esteem, self-acceptance, masculinity, and femininity among women scientists and other female populations.
• To examine the relationship between masculinity, femininity, and psychological well-being (self-esteem, self-acceptance) in women.
• To identify specific psychological traits that may characterize women in scientific careers.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Personal Orientation Inventory and Bem Sex Role Inventory for data collection.
• Administered demographic data sheets to gather relevant background information.
• Employed Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to compare group differences and correlation analyses to explore relationships between variables.

Main Results:

• Women scientists exhibited significantly lower self-acceptance scores than professional and student groups.
• Femininity scores were notably lower in women scientists compared to all other studied groups.
• Masculinity positively correlated with self-esteem in all groups except students, and with self-acceptance in all groups except students and scientists.

Conclusions:

• Women scientists display distinct psychological profiles, particularly lower self-acceptance and femininity.
• The association between masculinity and psychological well-being differs for women in scientific fields compared to other populations.
• Findings highlight the need for further research into the unique experiences and challenges faced by women in science.