The accuracy of academic gender stereotypes

This research assessed the accuracy of academic gender stereotypes. Approximately 9% of participants were nonwhite (mostly African American and Hispanic). Participants' estimates of the percentage of female and male students and their GPAs were compared to the actual percentage of female and male students and their actual GPAs in 12 majors. Participants significantly underestimated the percentage of female students regardless of the gender-type of the major. Females and males made more accurate percentage estimates for gender-congruent majors. Participants overestimated the GPAs of male students significantly more than the GPAs of female students. This was especially pronounced for masculine majors. Although female participants estimated the GPAs of their in-group more accurately than the GPAs of the out-group, the reverse was true for male participants. The implications of this evidence for inaccurate gender stereotypes regarding academic competence are discussed.