Understanding the Gender Gap in Creative Achievement

Abstract

ABSTRACTDespite minimal gender differences in creative potential and ability, there are substantial differences in the creative achievement of men and women. This article provides a brief overview of theories attempting to explain the gender gap in creative achievement and describes select research seeking to better understand the underlying assumptions of several of these theories. This work underscores the need for research-supported theories that account for how the dynamic interaction between different levels of analysis influences the gender gap in creative achievement. Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Notes1. Of the 730 people that have been awarded a Nobel Prize in these categories from 1901 to 2022, there have been 25 women, whereas there have been 27 men named Robert (Nobel Prize, 2023).