Linguistic analysis of pediatric residency personal statements: gender differences

Abstract

BackgroundAll US residency programs require applicants to submit personal statements. Prior studies showed gender differences in personal statement writing, which has implications for gender bias in the application process, but previous studies have not considered the dual influence of specialty-specific values on personal statement writing by applicants of each gender.ObjectiveTo understand gender differences in pediatric residency personal statements.MethodsFrom 2017 to 2018, we performed linguistic analysis of personal statements written by interviewees at a mid-size US pediatrics residency during two prior academic years. We assessed writing tone, communal language, and agentic language. We performed t-tests to evaluate for gender differences, p < 0.05.ResultsWe analyzed personal statements from 85 male and 85 female interviewees. Average word count was 676 words. Personal statements demonstrated analytic writing style with authentic and positive emotional tone. We found no gender differences in communal language for social affiliation (p = 0.31), adjectives (p = 0.49), or orientation (p = 0.48), which deviates from typical gender norms for male language use. Males used agentic language of reward more frequently (p = 0.02).ConclusionsFindings suggest that social language is valued in pediatrics, a predominantly female specialty, regardless of applicant gender. Use of reward language by males is consistent with previous findings. Future studies should evaluate gender differences in residency applications across specialties to advance understanding of the role gender plays in the application process.

Gender-Based Differences in Urology Residency Applicant Personal Statements

“…Interestingly, women applying to internal medicine and general surgery self-promoted by describing examples of team work and emphasizing the emotional and relational aspects of doctoring, while men tended to itemize their accomplishments and express an individual narrative, illustrating the subtle pervasiveness of gender expectations. [7][8][9] Similarly, our analysis shows that female medical students applying to urology used more social and affective-process words in their personal statements. By engaging in self-promotion through focusing on their relation to a team, women can appear competent while avoiding appearing immodest and contrary to expected gender norms.…”

“…However, this finding is not consistent across medical specialties. [7][8][9] Comparatively, clout scores were above average and approximately 15% higher among pediatric residency applicants. 9 The reasons for decreased clout in the writing of urology applicants is unclear.…”

“…Conversely, residents entering pediatrics, a female-dominated specialty, showed equal amounts of communal language used by male and female applicants, again suggesting that personal statement language is partially dictated by the applicant's perception of specialtyspecific values of behavior and speech. 9 It must also be noted that due to the gender disparity found within urology and other male-dominated medical fields, a large majority of faculty reviewers and program directors are male, which may impact how personal statements are read and received. While not previously studied, there could be also nuanced differences in perceptions that male readers form when compared to female readers as they navigate a personal statement.…”

“…The majority of these studies have found differences between men and women's writing that play into gender stereotypes. [6][7][8][9] Previously, we found that letter of recommendations written for male urology residency applicants were written in a more authentic tone, and reference themes of drive, power and work more often than letters written for female applicants. 6 However, genderbased differences in personal statements of applicants to urology residency programs have not been studied.…”

Bias, Fairness, and Validity in Graduate Admissions: A Psychometric Perspective

“…With respect to bias, there is research to suggest that male writers use more agentic and self-promotional language compared to female students (Babal et al, 2019;Osman et al, 2015).…”