Supportive Male Allies Can Make Male-Dominated Workplaces Less Hostile For Women

Despite much work to counter unequal workforces in science, technology, engineering and maths, stereotypes about who will succeed in science still abound — and some research suggests that these biases can actively put people off certain careers or fields. Other papers find that the competitive nature of STEM courses and roles can be particularly damaging, leading to low feelings of belonging and subsequent low retention rates for minority groups.

A new paper looks at the role of men in countering hostile environments — in particular, how men can signal their support and respect for women colleagues. Over three studies, the team finds that supportive male allies help reduce feelings of isolation and hostility for their women colleagues, potentially offering a new way to combat inequality in STEM. Continue reading →