Mathematical model of gender bias and homophily in professional hierarchies

Sara M. Clifton; Kaitlin Hill; Avinash J. Karamchandani; Eric A. Autry; Patrick McMahon; Grace Sun

doi:10.1063/1.5066450

Mathematical model of gender bias and homophily in professional hierarchies

Sara M. Clifton
, Kaitlin Hill
, Avinash J. Karamchandani
, Eric A. Autry
, Patrick McMahon
, Grace Sun

Administration (CSENG)

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

16 Scopus citations

Abstract

Women have become better represented in business, academia, and government over time, yet a dearth of women at the highest levels of leadership remains. Sociologists have attributed the leaky progression of women through professional hierarchies to various cultural and psychological factors, such as self-segregation and bias. Here, we present a minimal mathematical model that reveals the relative role that bias and homophily (self-seeking) may play in the ascension of women through professional hierarchies. Unlike previous models, our novel model predicts that gender parity is not inevitable, and deliberate intervention may be required to achieve gender balance in several fields. To validate the model, we analyze a new database of gender fractionation over time for 16 professional hierarchies. We quantify the degree of homophily and bias in each professional hierarchy, and we propose specific interventions to achieve gender parity more quickly.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	023135
Journal	Chaos
Volume	29
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5066450
State	Published - Feb 1 2019

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This work was funded in part by the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship No. DGE-1324585 and Mathways Grant No. DMS-1449269 (S.M.C.), Royal E.

Funding Information:
Cabell Terminal Year Fellowship (K.H. and E.A.A.), and the National Science Foundation Research Training Grant No. DMS-1547394 (A.J.K.). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 Author(s).

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 5 Gender Equality

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abstract = "Women have become better represented in business, academia, and government over time, yet a dearth of women at the highest levels of leadership remains. Sociologists have attributed the leaky progression of women through professional hierarchies to various cultural and psychological factors, such as self-segregation and bias. Here, we present a minimal mathematical model that reveals the relative role that bias and homophily (self-seeking) may play in the ascension of women through professional hierarchies. Unlike previous models, our novel model predicts that gender parity is not inevitable, and deliberate intervention may be required to achieve gender balance in several fields. To validate the model, we analyze a new database of gender fractionation over time for 16 professional hierarchies. We quantify the degree of homophily and bias in each professional hierarchy, and we propose specific interventions to achieve gender parity more quickly.",

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AU - Sun, Grace

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Mathematical model of gender bias and homophily in professional hierarchies

Abstract

Bibliographical note

UN SDGs

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