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Gendered perceptions and the use of Generative AI in academia: an experimental vignette study

Gendered perceptions and the use of Generative AI in academia: an experimental vignette study

Calluso, Cinzia, Iacopino, Valentina, Piazza, Anna ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5785-6948 and Datta Burton, Saheli (2026) Gendered perceptions and the use of Generative AI in academia: an experimental vignette study. Gender, Work and Organization. ISSN 0968-6673 (Print), 1468-0432 (Online) (In Press)

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Abstract

The adoption of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) is reshaping the very nature of work, yet its social meaning and evaluative implications—particularly for women—remain underexplored. While existing research has mainly examined GenAI adoption, use, and algorithmic bias, less is known about how the use of GenAI shapes how individuals are evaluated by others. Drawing on the Stereotype Content Model, Role Congruity Theory and techno-feminism perspectives, this study examines how women’s use of GenAI influences perceptions of competence and warmth in academia. Using a 2×2×2 experimental vignette design [gender*GenAI adoption*task type (teaching vs. research)] with 651 participants, we examine how evaluations vary by academic gender, GenAI adoption, and task domain (teaching vs. research). We find that GenAI adoption generally enhances perceived competence. Women, however, gain the most in research tasks, where technical skills challenge gendered expectations. Conversely, GenAI use reduces perceived warmth, disproportionately penalizing women, especially in research. These findings reveal a “double bind,” highlighting how GenAI adoption may reproduce and intensify gendered evaluative tradeoffs within academic prestige hierarchies and the need for institutional strategies to mitigate relational penalties while recognizing competence.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: stereotype, gender role, Generative Artificial Intelligence, experimental model, gender bias, vignette, academic profession, prestige, stereotype content model, social psychology
Subjects: H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
L Education > L Education (General)
Q Science > QA Mathematics > QA75 Electronic computers. Computer science
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group: Greenwich Business School
Greenwich Business School > Networks and Urban Systems Centre (NUSC)
Greenwich Business School > School of Business, Operations and Strategy
Last Modified: 10 Sep 2026 15:17
URI: https://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/54391

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