Gender bias
Added an example of gender bias when it comes to the healthcare system
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'''Gender bias''' is a societal concept in which one [[gender]] is preferred over another. It can be split into two main categories: [[Implicit stereotype|implicit]] and explicit. Implicit gender bias is a form of unconscious bias, which occurs when an individual unconsciously attributes certain attitudes, [[Stereotype|stereotypes]], or [[Gender role|gender norms]] to another person or group of people. Explicit gender bias is a form of conscious bias, in which one intentionally places standards and expecations on another person or group of people based on their own personal beliefs.{{Cite web |last=Reiners |first=Bailey |date=Aug 29, 2024 |title=What Is Gender Bias in the Workplace? |url=https://builtin.com/diversity-inclusion/gender-bias-in-the-workplace |website=builtin}} |
'''Gender bias''' is a societal concept in which one [[gender]] is preferred over another. It can be split into two main categories: [[Implicit stereotype|implicit]] and explicit. Implicit gender bias is a form of unconscious bias, which occurs when an individual unconsciously attributes certain attitudes, [[Stereotype|stereotypes]], or [[Gender role|gender norms]] to another person or group of people. Explicit gender bias is a form of conscious bias, in which one intentionally places standards and expecations on another person or group of people based on their own personal beliefs.{{Cite web |last=Reiners |first=Bailey |date=Aug 29, 2024 |title=What Is Gender Bias in the Workplace? |url=https://builtin.com/diversity-inclusion/gender-bias-in-the-workplace |website=builtin}} |
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== Origins of |
== Origins of gender bias == |
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The origins of gender bias come from a series of deeply rooted societal expectations for specific genders. These expectations differ between individual cultures, but often establish a set of behaviors in which certain genders are intended to follow. This develops into a series of societal [[Stereotype|stereotypes]] when it comes to gender, known as [[Gender role|gender norms]]. These gender norms nurture an environment for gender bias, in which one believes a certain norm makes one gender better than another. This belief system is passed down from generation to generation, further cementing gender bias within a society. Despite shifting cultural norms and contemporary advancements, gender bias continues to persist amongst many modern societies as a result of these intergenerational and historical gender stereoypes.{{Cite journal |last=Damann |first=Taylor J. |last2=Siow |first2=Jeremy |last3=Tavits |first3=Margit |date=2023-03-21 |title=Persistence of gender biases in Europe |url=https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2213266120 |journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences |volume=120 |issue=12 |pages=e2213266120 |doi=10.1073/pnas.2213266120 |pmc=10041098 |pmid=36913578}} |
The origins of gender bias come from a series of deeply rooted societal expectations for specific genders. These expectations differ between individual cultures, but often establish a set of behaviors in which certain genders are intended to follow. This develops into a series of societal [[Stereotype|stereotypes]] when it comes to gender, known as [[Gender role|gender norms]]. These gender norms nurture an environment for gender bias, in which one believes a certain norm makes one gender better than another. This belief system is passed down from generation to generation, further cementing gender bias within a society. Despite shifting cultural norms and contemporary advancements, gender bias continues to persist amongst many modern societies as a result of these intergenerational and historical gender stereoypes.{{Cite journal |last=Damann |first=Taylor J. |last2=Siow |first2=Jeremy |last3=Tavits |first3=Margit |date=2023-03-21 |title=Persistence of gender biases in Europe |url=https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2213266120 |journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences |volume=120 |issue=12 |pages=e2213266120 |doi=10.1073/pnas.2213266120 |pmc=10041098 |pmid=36913578}} |
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== Relation to |
== Relation to sexism == |
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Gender bias is a broad term that refers to any bias based on gender, affecting all traditional and non-traditional [[Gender role|gender norms]] and [[Gender expression|gender expressions]]. Gender bias has some relation to the concept of [[sexism]], but both remain as distinct concepts. Sexism is a form of explicit bias, in which one is overtly [[Discrimination|discriminatory]] towards another person or group of people based on their [[sex]]. This is different from gender bias, which can be either implicit or explicit in terms of stereotypes and preferences. |
Gender bias is a broad term that refers to any bias based on gender, affecting all traditional and non-traditional [[Gender role|gender norms]] and [[Gender expression|gender expressions]]. Gender bias has some relation to the concept of [[sexism]], but both remain as distinct concepts. Sexism is a form of explicit bias, in which one is overtly [[Discrimination|discriminatory]] towards another person or group of people based on their [[sex]]. This is different from gender bias, which can be either implicit or explicit in terms of stereotypes and preferences. |
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Gender bias in the workplace is an extremely common occurence. Gender bias leads to discrimination in hiring at all levels, with lower recuitment and job offer rates for women. Furthermore, there is a significant gap in salaries between men and women in the same positions.{{Cite journal |last=Oostendorp |first=Remco H. |date=2009 |title=Globalization and the Gender Wage Gap |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/40282296 |journal=The World Bank Economic Review |volume=23 |issue=1 |pages=141–161 |issn=0258-6770}} These behaviors stem from gender bias, in which society views women as less capable than men in the workplace. This is a result of an everlong societal portrayal of men as providers and women as nurturers. |
Gender bias in the workplace is an extremely common occurence. Gender bias leads to discrimination in hiring at all levels, with lower recuitment and job offer rates for women. Furthermore, there is a significant gap in salaries between men and women in the same positions.{{Cite journal |last=Oostendorp |first=Remco H. |date=2009 |title=Globalization and the Gender Wage Gap |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/40282296 |journal=The World Bank Economic Review |volume=23 |issue=1 |pages=141–161 |issn=0258-6770}} These behaviors stem from gender bias, in which society views women as less capable than men in the workplace. This is a result of an everlong societal portrayal of men as providers and women as nurturers. |
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== |
== Gender bias in healthcare == |
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[[Health care|Healthcare]] and medical treatment are additional societal experiences often influenced by gender bias. Preconceived societal perceptions of women's sensitivity and men's strength create gender norms as to how health issues are perceived, evaluated, and treated. This creates a disconnect between individual treatment for different genders, as gender norms establish a biased perspective on pain response and treatment efficiency.{{Cite journal |last=Samulowitz |first=Anke |last2=Gremyr |first2=Ida |last3=Eriksson |first3=Erik |last4=Hensing |first4=Gunnel |date=2018 |title=“Brave Men” and “Emotional Women”: A Theory-Guided Literature Review on Gender Bias in Health Care and Gendered Norms towards Patients with Chronic Pain |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1155/2018/6358624 |journal=Pain Research and Management |language=en |volume=2018 |issue=1 |pages=6358624 |doi=10.1155/2018/6358624 |issn=1918-1523 |pmc=5845507 |pmid=29682130}} |
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| ⚫ | A father and son are in a horrible car crash that kills the dad. The son is rushed to the hospital; just as he's about to go under the knife, the surgeon says, "I can’t operate—that boy is my son!" {{Cite web |last=Barlow |first=Rich |date=January 16, 2014 |title=BU Research: A Riddle Reveals Depth of Gender Bias |url=https://www.bu.edu/articles/2014/bu-research-riddle-reveals-the-depth-of-gender-bias/ |website=Boston University}} |
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| ⚫ | When faced with the surgeon riddle, many people unconsciously assume the [[surgeon]] is [[male]], even if they consciously hold [[egalitarian]] views; this illustrates implicit gender bias. This is distinct from explicit gender bias, which manifests when individuals [[Consciousness|consciously]] express prejudiced [[Belief|beliefs]], such as preferring male [[Physician|doctors]] or openly endorsing sexism.{{Cite web |last=Loh |first=Erwin |date=24 July 2017 |title=Unconscious bias and the gender riddle |url=https://insightplus.mja.com.au/2017/28/unconscious-bias-and-the-gender-riddle/ |website=InSight}} |
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== Gender bias in artificial intelligence == |
== Gender bias in artificial intelligence == |
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[[Generative artificial intelligence#Racial and gender bias|Gender bias in artificial intelligence]] refers to the circumstances in which AI systems reflect and [[Gender digital divide#Female gendering of AI technologies|perpetuate]] existing [[Society|societal]] biases, leading to unfair or discriminatory results. These biases can manifest in [[Algorithmic bias#Machine learning bias|various ways]].{{Cite journal |last=Balestri |first=Roberto |date=18 March 2025 |title=Gender and content bias in Large Language Models: a case study on Google Gemini 2.0 Flash Experimental |journal=Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence |volume=8 |article-number=1558696 |doi=10.3389/frai.2025.1558696 |doi-access=free |pmid=40171403 |pmc=11958708 }} |
[[Generative artificial intelligence#Racial and gender bias|Gender bias in artificial intelligence]] refers to the circumstances in which AI systems reflect and [[Gender digital divide#Female gendering of AI technologies|perpetuate]] existing [[Society|societal]] biases, leading to unfair or discriminatory results. These biases can manifest in [[Algorithmic bias#Machine learning bias|various ways]].{{Cite journal |last=Balestri |first=Roberto |date=18 March 2025 |title=Gender and content bias in Large Language Models: a case study on Google Gemini 2.0 Flash Experimental |journal=Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence |volume=8 |article-number=1558696 |doi=10.3389/frai.2025.1558696 |doi-access=free |pmid=40171403 |pmc=11958708 }} |
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== Gender bias in colors == |
== Gender bias in colors == |
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Gender bias can manifest as a type of [[Color#Cultural perspective|color bias]] that reinforces societal association of certain colors with specific genders, particularly [[Gendered associations of pink and blue|pink with girls and blue with boys]], which can perpetuate harmful [[Gender stereotype|stereotypes]]. This bias is a relatively [[Gendered associations of pink and blue#Colored items|modern construct]]. |
Gender bias can manifest as a type of [[Color#Cultural perspective|color bias]] that reinforces societal association of certain colors with specific genders, particularly [[Gendered associations of pink and blue|pink with girls and blue with boys]], which can perpetuate harmful [[Gender stereotype|stereotypes]]. This bias is a relatively [[Gendered associations of pink and blue#Colored items|modern construct]]. |
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== The surgeon riddle == |
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| ⚫ | A father and son are in a horrible car crash that kills the dad. The son is rushed to the hospital; just as he's about to go under the knife, the surgeon says, "I can’t operate—that boy is my son!" {{Cite web |last=Barlow |first=Rich |date=January 16, 2014 |title=BU Research: A Riddle Reveals Depth of Gender Bias |url=https://www.bu.edu/articles/2014/bu-research-riddle-reveals-the-depth-of-gender-bias/ |website=Boston University}} |
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| ⚫ | When faced with the surgeon riddle, many people unconsciously assume the [[surgeon]] is [[male]], even if they consciously hold [[egalitarian]] views; this illustrates implicit gender bias. This is distinct from explicit gender bias, which manifests when individuals [[Consciousness|consciously]] express prejudiced [[Belief|beliefs]], such as preferring male [[Physician|doctors]] or openly endorsing sexism.{{Cite web |last=Loh |first=Erwin |date=24 July 2017 |title=Unconscious bias and the gender riddle |url=https://insightplus.mja.com.au/2017/28/unconscious-bias-and-the-gender-riddle/ |website=InSight}} |
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==References== |
==References== |
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