What's in a Name? The Status Implications of Students' Terms of Address for Male and Female Professors

Authors: Takiff, Hilary A.¹; Sanchez, Diana T.¹; Stewart, Tracie L.²

Source: Psychology of Women Quarterly, Volume 25, Number 2, June 2001 , pp. 134-144(11)

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Abstract:

College students participated in two studies assessing differences in terms of address for male and female professors (i.e., first name vs. title) and the implications of the terms selected. In Study 1, 243 students reported their terms of address for professors of their present classes. As predicted, the probability of being addressed by title was significantly greater for male professors than female professors. In Study 2, 120 students read and answered questions about a transcript of a class session ostensibly taught by a male or female professor whom students addressed by first name or title. Professors were perceived to hold higher status when addressed by title, regardless of their gender. Female, but not male, professors addressed by title were perceived to be less accessible. These findings suggest that female professors hold lower status than male professors and must often choose between perceptions of status versus accessibility.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1471-6402.00015

Affiliations: 1: Bard College, 2: Mississippi State University

Publication date: 2001-06-01