BIO

My name is Jack Nichols, and I am a first-year student at Florida State University studying Spanish and Pure mathematics. I was born and raised in Star, Idaho (a rural suburb in the Boise area). At the moment, I plan on pursuing a career in teaching or education policy, and my research interests include intersectionality, multicultural teaching, and international education.

Gender Bias in Academic Letters of Recommendation

Abstract

This investigation evaluated the systematic effects of gender bias on the quality and integrity of letters of recommendation (LORs) from various academic disciplines. To do so, we analyzed the qualitative content of 54 LORs and calculated the relative frequencies of certain adjectives, descriptive phrases, and personal qualities in each letter. We then compared the frequency values to one another and identified any statistical disparities between male and female LORs. Our preliminary findings reflect the ongoing presence of gender bias in academia, as male applicants were more likely to be described as “reliable” when compared to their female counterparts. Similarly, a greater portion of letters written on behalf of male applicants contained “superlative” descriptions and references. Nevertheless, an unexpected proportion of male applicants were described using traditionally “feminine” language and terminology. These findings indicate that certain words have started to lose their gendered connotations in recent years. Ultimately, these results can be used to create educational resources that guide professors and faculty members through the process of writing unbiased LORs.

Keywords: Gender Bias, Letters of Recommendation, Higher Education