TED Talks Daily cover image

TED Talks Daily

Why are women still taken less seriously than men? | Mary Ann Sieghart

Mar 8, 2024
Mary Ann Sieghart, author and journalist, dives into the pervasive 'authority gap' where women are often underestimated in professional contexts. She shares eye-opening anecdotes and research revealing how gender bias affects perceptions of competence. Sieghart advocates for proactive changes to amplify women's voices in media and professional roles. By addressing these biases, she argues that everyone stands to benefit, ultimately promoting a more equal and productive society.
13:17

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Men are quoted 3 times more in news stories, contributing to an 'authority gap' favoring them in competence and authority perceptions.
  • Gender biases impact credibility in professional settings, with women facing interruptions and challenges while men receive more initial credibility.

Deep dives

The Authority Gap in Media Representation

Men are disproportionately represented in media, being quoted 3 times more in news stories and appearing as protagonists in movies twice as often as women. This disparity contributes to an 'authority gap' where men are automatically assumed to be more competent and authoritative. Research indicates that men tend to have six times more influence in group discussions compared to women, highlighting a systemic bias in how authority is perceived and attributed.

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
App store bannerPlay store banner

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode