Messages about brilliance undermine women's interest in educational and professional opportunities

Pervasive cultural stereotypes associate brilliance with men, not women. Given these stereotypes, messages suggesting that a career requires brilliance may undermine women's interest. Consistent with this hypothesis, linking success to brilliance lowered women's (but not men's) interest in a range of educational and professional opportunities introduced via hypothetical scenarios (Experiments 1-4). It also led women more than men to expect that they would feel anxious and would not belong (Experiments 2-5). These gender differences were explained in part by women's perception that they are different from the typical person in these contexts (Experiments 5 and 6). In sum, the present research reveals that certain messages-in particular, those suggesting that brilliance is essential to success-may contribute to the gender gaps that are present in many fields.