Chatman and colleagues (2022) examined how stereotype perceptions of professional women shift as they age, particularly how these changes lead to career challenges. The study shows that middle-aged women often face stereotype incongruity: they are perceived as “agentic” – competent, assertive, and ambitious – but are seen as lacking traits associated with “warmth,” such as empathy and kindness. This perception creates challenges in professional environments because agentic qualities in women frequently clash with social expectations of warmth and caregiving traits traditionally associated with femininity. As a result, stereotype tensions arise, which can lead to negative consequences such as fewer promotion opportunities and lower performance evaluations.
