But if you think risk-taking is just inherently a “manly” quality, think again: A new study just published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggests gender differences when it comes to risk aversion are, like most gender differences, a product of socialization. In other words, the way we raise girls and boys is likely directly related to why women are less willing to take risks than men are. Researchers surveyed students from grades one through five for two consecutive years in four different elementary schools where both Mosuo and Han kids attended. They found, at the start of elementary school, Mosuo girls actually tended to be bigger risk-takers than Mosuo boys, whereas Han girls were more risk-averse than Han boys—in other words, the kids were performing according to their respective parental cultures. But as the groups of children interacted with each other over the years, the girls of both cultures began to change with age. Mosuo girls became more risk-averse, and Han girls became more risk-taking. Although the study didn’t go on to track how the girls interacted when they returned home to their respective communities, the researchers say their findings indicate the malleability of risk aversion as a personality trait. “Environment is extremely important in shaping risk aversion,” said Elaine Liu, Ph.D., an economics professor at the University of Houston and one of the study authors, in a news release. “If we can teach girls that they should be more risk-loving, perhaps that will shape their future decision-making.” That’s not something to be taken lightly: Past research has shown the pressure to adhere to gender norms can curb women’s economic attainment and make them less willing to strive for more. Risk-taking is particularly important for financial growth, both when it comes to taking bets on businesses that could potentially yield high rewards and when it comes to taking on big opportunities in the workplace that tend to get you noticed. Many experts believe women’s risk aversion may be related to the gender pay gap and why men tend to make a lot more money than women do. If risk aversion really is something that’s culturally instilled as this study suggests, then it’s all the more important that we as a society are going to extra lengths to encourage young girls to take risks. “Gender norms are slow to change, but there are social influences that could play a role in how we shape that behavior,” Dr. Liu said. What might that look like? It means encouraging young girls to explore their surroundings, ask questions, and make their own decisions without supervision whenever possible. It means not rushing to stop girls from getting dirty or hurting themselves on the playground while you let the boys run free. It means validating girls who go out of their comfort zone to speak up, show off, or try something new. Compliment and reward her for her efforts so she internalizes that it’s good to be bold. Those lessons will shape her personality and might just shape her decisions years down the line. With her warm, playful approach to coaching and facilitation, Kelly creates refreshingly candid spaces for processing and healing challenges around dating, sexuality, identity, body image, and relationships. She’s particularly enthusiastic about helping softhearted women get re-energized around the dating experience and find joy in the process of connecting with others. She believes relationships should be easy—and that, with room for self-reflection and the right toolkit, they can be. You can stay in the loop about her latest programs, gatherings, and other projects through her newsletter: kellygonsalves.com/newsletter
