Investigating individual writing style as a contributor to gender gaps in science and technology

A research study analyzing academic paper abstracts and patents across scientific and technological fields found systematic gender differences in writing styles. Women's writing was consistently more 'involved,' emphasizing relational and audience-oriented features, while men's writing tended to be more 'informational,' focusing on facts. This distinction held across various scientific domains and authorship types.

Why it matters

This research suggests that subtle linguistic differences in scientific communication may contribute to observed gender gaps in evaluation within science and technology. Understanding these stylistic variations is crucial for developing equitable assessment processes and fostering inclusive environments that value diverse communication approaches.

Key insights

• Women's writing in science and technology is systematically more 'involved' than men's writing.
• Involved writing features emphasize relationships and audience orientation.
• Men's writing tends to be more 'informational,' emphasizing factual content.
• This gendered difference in writing style persists across all fields of science and technology, and in both single-authored and collaborative work.
• The study highlights linguistic style as a potentially overlooked contributor to gender disparities in the evaluation of scientific work.

Source

arXiv — Computers and Society — https://arxiv.org/abs/2204.13805