A new study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology had debunked a popular theory that men are more creative than women and found that instead, creativity is simply presented differently among the genders. However, this difference in presentation may be contributing to the stereotypical devaluing of women’s creative contributions.
The study authors examined over 750 earlier studies on creativity consisting of more than 265,000 individuals in several countries. They found that men’s creative contributions were more likely associated with risk-taking activities and therefore viewed as new and innovative. On the other hand, women’s creative thinking often involved bringing together multiple perspectives from colleagues. The authors discovered this empathetic approach to creativity often increased the likelihood of the long-term usefulness of the creative contribution.
These findings suggest that women’s creativity is not inferior to men’s, but may be devalued due to other stakeholders’ tendency to prioritize novelty over longterm usefulness. The study authors suggest organizations leverage their findings to create a more gender-equitable workplace that embraces the creative strengthens of both men and women.