Can women be themselves in male-dominated career fields? A study out of Stanford University found that women tend to play down their female traits in male-dominated fields.

Researchers asked women pursuing careers in mathematics to assess themselves on stereotypically female characteristics. The results showed that women didn't completely abandon their femininity. However, the women did tend to distance themselves from stereotypically female characteristics like makeup, gossiping, flirting, and even the desire to have children.

Women Less Likely to Pursue Careers in Mathematics

At the time of the study, only 7% of women in higher education were pursuing careers in mathematics or other quantitative fields, compared to 45% of male students. The study author noted that results suggest women may not be able to be themselves on the job or in the classroom.

Recruiting Female Role Models

A potential solution, the study author told Psychology Today, is to recruit more female math educators as role models for women pursuing careers in mathematics. Positive role models will hopefully reinforce the concept that gender is not a handicap.