Two studies tested the impact of subtle cues that associate masculinity with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) success on women’s STEM experiences. Study 1 was a field study conducted in a university campus engineering building where photos of graduating classes were displayed. In Study 2, STEM majors viewed a mock website that depicted either exclusively male or mixed-gender STEM students. Across both studies, women reported greater fundamental need threat—a composite of threats to belonging, self-esteem, control, and meaningful existence—after viewing photos of exclusively male STEM students than did men. This gender effect disappeared when photos included female STEM students. Direct effects of gender and photo condition on career intentions were not observed, but indirect effects were obtained through need threat. Thus, because fleeting exposure to subtle background images associating STEM success with masculinity can negatively impact women’s fundamental needs, cues in academic environments should be carefully considered.

两项研究测试了将阳刚之气与科学，技术，工程和数学（STEM）成功相关联的微妙线索对女性STEM体验的影响。研究1是在大学校园工程大楼中进行的实地研究，其中显示了毕业班的照片。在研究2中，STEM专业学生查看了一个模拟网站，该网站专门描述了男性或性别混合的STEM学生。在这两项研究中，女性观看基本STEM学生的照片后，所报告的基本需求威胁都比男性更大，这是对归属感，自尊心，控制力和有意义的生存的综合威胁。当照片中包括女性STEM学生时，这种性别效应消失了。没有观察到性别和照片条件对职业意图的直接影响，但通过需求威胁获得了间接影响。从而，