Avoid Implicit Gender Bias in Recommendation Letters
These%guidelines%are%based%on%the%analysis%of%1,224%letters%of%recommendation*%as%
well%as%the%larger%body%of%research%on%bias%in%recommendation%letters,%which%
suggests%that%men%usually%receive%stronger%letters%of%recommendation%compared%to%
women.%Typically%both%male%and%female%letter-writers%exhibit%similar%biases.%Here%
are%some%things%to%keep%in%mind%when%writing%a%recommendation%letter.%
Identify)Skills)
Before%writing%a%letter%look%at%the%job%description%
and%identify%the%necessary%skills.%Examples%could%
include%“creativity”,%“problem-solving%skills”,%
“analytical%skills”.%%This%will%help%avoid%reliance%on%
gendered%language.%
“Hardworking”)and)“Intelligent”:)To)Use)or)Not)to)Use?))
Some%studies%suggest%that%words%like%“hardworking”%and%“intelligent”%(labeled%
“grindstone”%adjectives)%might%be%deterrents.%However,%the%overwhelming%
majority%of%letters%that%we%examined%described%candidates%(male%and%female)%as%
hardworking%and%intelligent.%The%key%difference?%Some%letters%went%significantly%
above%and%beyond%that%to%describe%the%candidate%in%outstanding%terms;%others%
did%not.%So%the%key%questions%are%not%whether%to%use%words%like%hardworking%
and%intelligent,%but%more%importantly:%i)%What%is%the%best%thing%you%have%said%
about%the%candidate%and%does%it%reflect%their%skills?%and%ii)%Are%you%using%similar%
language%when%describing%men%and%women?%
Important!))
The%goal%is%not%to%simply%start%writing%stronger%letters%for%everyone;%rather,%it%is%
to%ensure%that%similarly%qualified%men%and%women%are%described%in%similar%
language,%thereby%avoiding%unconscious%bias.%%
Language)Matters)
Women’s%personalities%
are%often%described%as%
“caring”,%“reliable”,%and%
“team%player”.%Try%to%
counteract%this%by%
mentioning%other%traits,%
e.g.,%“confident”,%
“motivated”,%
“passionate”,%“dynamic”.%%
Mention)Accomplishments)
Take%care%to%mention%accomplishments%–%studies%
suggest%that%women%are%less%likely%to%highlight%their%
own%accomplishments%compared%to%men.%%
Pay)Attention)to)Wording)
“Excellent%academic%ability”%reads%better%than%
“very%good%student”,%and%“motivated%and%
driven”%reads%better%than%“good%work%ethic”.%
Also,%men%are%more%likely%to%be%described%in%
terms%of%their%potential,%and%women%in%terms%
of%their%actual%accomplishments.%
Avoid)Qualifiers)and)Reference)to)
Stereotypes)
Avoid%comments%such%as,%“For%an%Asian,%her%
English%is%very%good,”%when%you%can%just%say,%
“Her%English%is%very%good.”%Or%instead%of,%“For%
someone%who%has%two%young%children%she%is%a%
very%productive%scientist,”%you%can%just%say,%
“She%is%a%very%productive%scientist.”%%
Don’t)Rush)It)
Evaluate%materials%without%
rushing,%as%we%are%more%likely%
to%make%snap%judgments%when%
in%a%hurry%or%during%moments%
of%stress,%causing%us%to%rely%
more%heavily%on%stereotypes%
and%unconscious%biases.%%
John)or)Jennifer?))
Numerous%studies%have%
documented%that%men%are%
evaluated%more%favorably%than%
women%with%similar%or%identical%
qualifications.%This%includes%
CVs,%recommendation%letters,%
teaching%evaluations,%grant%
proposal%funding,%investment%
pitches%and%entrepreneurial%
funding,%symphony%orchestra%
auditions,%and%various%others.%
Prepared%by:%Dr.%Kuheli%Dutt,%Assistant%Director,%Academic%Affairs%&%Diversity.%Learn%more%at:%
https://diversity.ldeo.columbia.edu/%%
Cite)as:%Dutt,%K.:%Avoid&Implicit&Gender&Bias&in&Recommendation&Letters.%Lamont-Doherty%
Earth%Observatory,%The%Earth%Institute%of%Columbia%University,%New%York.%July%2019.%
Avoid Implicit Gender Bias in Recommendation Letters
Be)Mindful)of)How)You)Give)Credit)
Research%has%shown%that%men%are%more%likely%
to%be%credited%with%the%big%picture%(e.g.,%vision,%
drive)%in%science,%whereas%women%are%more%
likely%to%be%credited%with%supporting%roles.%
Some)Resources:))
• *Dutt%K,%Pfaff%DL,%Bernstein%AF,%Dillard%JS,%Block%CJ.%Gender&differences&in&recommendation&
letters&for&postdoctoral&fellowships&in&geoscience.%Nature%Geoscience,%9(11)%805-808.%(2016)%%
• Moss-Racusin,%CA,%et%al.%Science&faculty's&subtle&gender&biases&favor&male&students.%PNAS,%
USA,%109(41):16474-9&(2012)%
• Trix,%F.%&%Psenka,%C.%Exploring&the&color&of&glass:&letters&of&Recommendation&for&female&and&
male&medical&faculty.%Discourse%Soc.%14,%191220%(2003)%
