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Date of Award

2026

Document Type

Restricted Thesis: Campus only access

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Leadership Studies

First Advisor

Dr. Crystal Hoyt

Second Advisor

Dr. Adam Stanaland

Third Advisor

Dr. Chris von Rueden

Abstract

Gender essentialism holds that women and men have inherent, fixed, biologically determined qualities that define their gender and shape everyday roles and behaviors. Beyond influencing perceptions of others, these beliefs also shape self-perceptions and how people view their own potential. In this research, we test the causal role of gender essentialist beliefs in shaping women’s and men’s engagement in gender-dominated fields that either align or conflict with their gender identity. Finding that women with stronger self-reported essentialist beliefs expressed greater engagement in the female-dominated field of registered nursing, reflecting more positive attitudes, interests, and belonging in the gender-congruent field. Men’s essentialist beliefs did not predict engagement with either gendered field. For women and men, essentialist beliefs were not associated with lower engagement in either gendered field. Additionally, we explore the relevance of status threat concerns in shaping women’s and men’s engagement in these gendered fields. Finding that status threat concerns were particularly relevant for men, with greater status threat concerns associated with lower engagement with the gender-incongruent field of nursing. This work contributes to understanding the causal impact of essentialist beliefs, including their role in the underrepresentation of men in female-dominated domains, while highlighting the importance of other belief systems, such as men’s status threat concerns. It offers insight into why gender segregation persists while pointing to strategies for encouraging more flexible career pathways.

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