Deciphering gender biases in performance feedback

Summary

In their 2022 paper "A Bias Toward Kindness Goals in Performance Feedback to Women (vs. Men)", Lily Jampol, Aneeta Rattan, and Elizabeth Baily Wolf delve into the dynamics of gender biases in performance feedback. The authors argue that women often receive more positively biased feedback than men, characterized by a 'positivity bias' where critical feedback is adjusted to be less negative. This bias, while appearing beneficial, can hinder women's professional development, as it reduces the likelihood of learning from mistakes and limits opportunities for improvement.

The researchers propose that this bias arises from stereotypical perceptions of women as higher in warmth compared to men. These stereotypes influence evaluators’ priorities, leading them to emphasize