Race and Gender Biases Persist in Public Perceptions of Scientists’ Credibility

Eom, D., Molder, A., Tosteson, H.A., Howell, E.L., DeSalazar, M., Kirschner, E., Goodwin, S.S., & Scheufele, D.A. Scientific Reports (2025)

This study examines how race and gender stereotypes affect scientists’ ability to communicate with diverse US public audiences. Through a unique collaboration between researchers and filmmakers, we conducted an online survey experiment with a nationally representative U.S. quota sample, including an oversample of Black respondents (N = 1637). We found that Black female scientists face challenges in being perceived as warm and competent compared to their peers. Our findings revealed significant intersectional biases: Black female scientists received the lowest ratings in both warmth and competence, with ratings dropping further when introducing a story about a White patient. Black male scientists received consistently high ratings across experimental conditions, particularly showing elevated warmth scores when discussing a Black protagonist with sickle cell anemia. They also maintained high competence ratings whether working with Black or White protagonists. This pattern suggests that while Black scientists generally faced discrimination, Black men’s gender afforded them certain privileges that were not extended to Black women in scientific fields. Our findings highlight persistent, intersectional biases and emphasize the need for comprehensive approaches to diversity and inclusion in scientific communication, which includes addressing the prejudices faced by female scientists and scientists of color.