This is such a big issue is that fact that it creates a whole new mindset in the minds of females. They develop what is called a fixed mindset. A fixed mindset is a type of mindset in that someone has where that person believes that some basic qualities, such as their intelligence and talent, are fixed traits. People who have this type of mindset tend to waste time documenting their intelligence instead of developing them and believe that hard work cannot lead to success, that how talented someone is leads to how successful that person becomes. In a study conducted by Psychologists Claude Steele, Joshua Aronson, and Steven Spencer, it was proven “that negative stereotypes raise inhibiting doubts and high-pressure anxieties in a test-taker’s mind” (Steele et al.)
This quote explains that when a negative stereotype is introduced about one’s social group, it can really hinder that person’s confidence and create a lot of doubtful thoughts and anxiety before they perform a certain task that will show whether or not they can prove this stereotype false. What we must do is promote a growth mindset instead of a fixed one. When an individual has a growth mindset, they believe that their most basic abilities can be developed and improved on through dedication and hard work. They believe that having high intellect and a lot of talent is not what dictates how successful one is but is just the starting point of the whole process.
According to Psychologist Carol Dweck, students, both males and females, who have acquired a growth mindset to not be affected by stereotype threat and are much more likely to succeed than those are much more likely than those with a fixed mindset. “Students who embrace growth mindsets- the belief that they can learn more or become smarter if they work hard and persevere- may learn more, learn it more quickly, and view challenges and failures as opportunities to improve their learning and skills” (Dweck).
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Dweck explains in the quote above that students who are able to develop growth mindsets think differently than those with fixed mindsets. They are able to learn concepts more efficiently and when they encounter setbacks, they don’t get discourage and find a way to rise above it. If more and more women, develop a fixed mindset, then it will make them less and less prone to being victims of stereotype threat. When fallen under this immense pressure, women are far less likely to succeed than if the presence of the stereotype threat was not there.
