{
  "id": 16209947,
  "title": "How gendered messaging can backfire",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/23/how-gendered-messaging-can-backfire",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-10-23T18:01:48.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Futurity",
    "slug": "futurity",
    "url": "https://www.futurity.org/gendered-messaging-3349922/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A recent study by psychologists suggests that gender-focused messaging in campaigns supporting female empowerment may have unintended negative consequences. While campaigns like \"The future is female\" or \"Women's Chess Champion\" are intended to celebrate women's achievements, the research indicates they can backfire. April Bailey, a researcher from the University of Edinburgh, explains that while visibility is important, highlighting a person's gender can imply they are unusual or unexpected in that role. This could suggest women are not normally seen in certain fields, causing people to perceive fewer women participate or that women are less capable. The study involved over 1,100 participants in the United States, who read about fictional activities. When gender was explicitly mentioned, both women and men perceived fewer women involved and rated women as less capable. The effect was stronger in adults. Interestingly, the impact disappeared when fictional groups were used instead of real genders. The researchers conclude that while it's crucial to celebrate women's achievements, focusing solely on their gender may inadvertently undermine the message. Instead, highlighting women's success without emphasizing their gender could be more effective.",
  "summary": "\"While often well-meaning, gendered messaging does not always promote more positive perceptions of women or girls...\"",
  "key_points": [
    "Gender-focused messaging in female empowerment campaigns can backfire.",
    "Explicitly mentioning gender implies women are unusual in certain roles.",
    "Effect stronger in adults, disappears with fictional groups."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}