In Their Own Words: A Classroom Exercise to Expose Gender Bias in Student Teams

teams, gender, perceptions

It’s easy to believe, after decades of research and ever-increasing awareness, that gender bias issues in our classrooms have subsided. Our current students, both undergraduate and many graduate, comprise what is arguably one of the most equity-aware generations in history. Equality, fair treatment, and non-biased interactions should be the norm among our business students. This simple but remarkably effective exercise suggests otherwise. If you use mixed-gender student teams for classroom projects, this session will provide a powerful opening to meaningful discussions about gender-based perceptions, communication, leadership, and team behavior.