Gender Bias in Research

Psychological theories and research are sexist to the extent that they incorporate stereotypic thinking about gender and produce and promote gender inequality. In this regard, gender bias refers to the development of theories or the conduct of research in which greater attention or value is given to the life experiences of one gender. Gender bias interferes with psychology’s goal to provide scientific and useful information about human behavior; however, gender-biased research may be used to set policy or to justify discriminatory behavior.

Gender bias in research reflects widely held beliefs about men and women and may reify those beliefs as scientific fact. One aspect of gender bias is the acceptance and endorsement of the stereotypic view of men and women as polar opposites, with males as ...