Does the Follow-Your-Passions Ideology Cause Greater Academic and Occupational Gender Disparities Than Other Cultural Ideologies?

Five preregistered studies (N = 1934) demonstrate that the prevalent U.S. ideology to “follow your
passions” perpetuates academic and occupational gender disparities compared to some other cultural
ideologies. Study 1 shows that the follow-your-passions ideology is commonly used by U.S. students in
making academic choices. Studies 2–5 find that making the follow-your-passions ideology salient causes
greater academic and occupational gender disparities compared to the resources ideology (i.e., the idea that
one should pursue a field that leads to high income and job security). In Study 4, the follow-your-passions
ideology causes greater gender disparities even when compared to a cultural ideology that aligns more with
the female gender role (i.e., communal ideology). In Study 5, a moderated mediation analysis supports the
hypothesis that gender disparities are explained by women’s versus men’s greater tendency to draw upon
female role-congruent selves when the follow-your-passions ideology is salient compared to when the
resources ideology is salient. Drawing upon female role-congruent selves remains a significant mediator
even when accounting for alternative mediators (e.g., appropriateness of ideology for one’s gender). The
follow-your-passions ideology may not seem explicitly gendered, but it causes greater academic and
occupational gender disparities compared to some other cultural ideologies.