Getting ahead versus getting along: Investigating how gender stereotypes are contributing to gender inequality in HEIs.

The project investigated the reasons behind the underrepresentation of women in senior academic positions in higher education institutions (HEIs).

The team examined the potential misalignment between the 'getting ahead' criteria required for academic advancement and the perception that women should 'get along' by engaging in stereotypically female behaviors, such as caring for others. These behaviors, while often valued socially, were found to be less valued in terms of career progression.

The research proposed that women in academia faced a double bind: the need to choose between conforming to these expectations or striving for advancement, both potentially leading to negative consequences.