Renee HlozekNov 22, 2022
Bryan Gaensler 📡🧲

People are understandably objecting to the suggestion that one avoids words like “caring” or “helpful” in academic reference letters.

We all want caring & helpful colleagues! But this misses a key point.
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RT @SciBry
It's that time of year. How to avoid gender bias when writing recommendation letters.
https://twitter.com/SciBry/status/788160313044631552

Bryan Gaensler 📡🧲 on Twitter

“It's that time of year. How to avoid gender bias when writing recommendation letters.”

Twitter
Nov 22, 2022 at 1:36pmWeb
Show threadBryan Gaensler 📡🧲Nov 22, 2022
Statistics averaged across 1000s of reference letters show that women are more likely to be described with “communal” adjectives (cheerful, kind) and men with “agentic” ones (resourceful, brilliant).
Show threadBryan Gaensler 📡🧲Nov 22, 2022
If you want to avoid propagating this dynamic (and the outcomes it produces), check that every letter you write uses BOTH agentic and communal adjectives as appropriate.
Show threadBryan Gaensler 📡🧲Nov 22, 2022
And more broadly, make sure the style and length of letter you write is the same for everyone you write for, regardless of their gender or other axes of identity.
Show threadBryan Gaensler 📡🧲Nov 22, 2022

Also: any equitable and transparent job search MUST list the pre-defined selection criteria in the job ad.

If kindness, care, dynamism or brilliance are attributes you will base your hiring decision on, then specify this. It will allow applicants to put their best foot forward.

Show threadpiripuriniNov 22, 2022

@SciBry I have another suggestion on this front too - making explicit the skilled work behind the things that get presented as natural character traits for women.

- eg. X makes a point of keeping up to date with their colleagues' work and has initiated several collaborative projects of which our team is particularly proud.