Why robots can be culturally insensitive – and how scientists are trying to fix it

Stereotypes can creep in if ‘culturally sensitive’ robots are not designed with great care.

Masoumeh Mansouri, Associate Professor, School of Computer Science, University of Birmingham • conversation
April 15, 2024 ~6 min

AI image generator serves up racial, gender stereotypes

What does a person look like? If you use the popular AI image generator Stable Diffusion to get answers, too frequently you'll see images of light-skinned men.

Stefan Milne-U. Washington • futurity
Nov. 30, 2023 ~8 min


Parents and coaches believe girls aren’t as good at chess

Parents and coaches of youth chess players peg the highest potential rating of girl players to be lower than that of boy players.

James Devitt-NYU • futurity
Oct. 5, 2023 ~7 min

How stereotyping increases during economic crises

Research shows why people in more diverse communities tend to rely less on negative stereotypes.

Alexander J. Stewart, Senior lecturer, University of St Andrews • conversation
Sept. 26, 2023 ~7 min

Representation of women physicians is lacking in US movies

Women and people of color are largely missing from movie roles depicting physicians, a new study finds.

Andrea Clement-Emory • futurity
Sept. 13, 2023 ~5 min

Trans students benefit from gender-inclusive classrooms, research shows – and so do the other students and science itself

‘Don’t Say Gay’ bills claim to use science to justify a binary definition of sex based on certain traits. But the biology of sex and gender is not so simple.

Sarah Eddy, Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences, Florida International University • conversation
Aug. 31, 2023 ~11 min

Women’s soccer is just as great, test shows

When gender is obscured, viewers rate women's soccer the same as men's. Is perceived quality of the sport filtered through stereotypes?

Beat Müller-U. Zurich • futurity
July 17, 2023 ~4 min

Gender-affirming care has a long history in the US – and not just for transgender people

The first transgender medical clinic opened in the US in the 1960s. But cisgender and intersex children began receiving similar treatments even earlier – often without their consent.

G. Samantha Rosenthal, Associate Professor of History, Roanoke College • conversation
March 27, 2023 ~11 min


5 ways kids’ Valentine’s Day cards embrace gender stereotypes

Over 30 years ago, research showed how children's valentines perpetuate binary gender stereotypes. Decades later, not much has changed.

Jade McClain-NYU • futurity
Feb. 10, 2023 ~8 min

Eating disorders also affect disadvantaged boys

Boys in disadvantaged circumstances—not just girls from wealthy backgrounds—are at increased risk of disordered eating, research finds.

Kim Ward-Michigan State • futurity
Jan. 31, 2023 ~4 min

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