Preferences shape elite gender gaps

Tracking top STEM PhDs and the profoundly gifted to age 50, Lubinski and colleagues find systematic sex differences in work preferences and life values (e.g., men prioritize long hours, status, and salary more; women prioritize people‑oriented work and life balance more). Among those most able to choose their careers, these differences plausibly channel men and women into different fields and senior roles. — This evidence complicates bias‑only narratives about gender disparities in STEM and leadership and should inform how DEI, education, and workplace policy weigh interests versus barriers.