Neutralizing Sexism in Mixed-Sex Groups: Do Women Have to Be Better Than Men?

The first part of this study supports the contention that sex (gender) acts as a "diffuse status characteristics" in mixed-sex task groups and leads to the exertion of less influence by females than by males. The second part compares three techniques for changing expectations. Two of them, verbal statements of equality and a demonstration of equality on a related task, had no effect in the experiment conducted. The third, however, a demonstration of female superiority on a related task, not only changed influence patterns in the experimental group but also transferred to new partners in a second experiment.