Letters of recommendation are an important component of students’ applications for residency, research fellowships, dual degree programs and other opportunities. Unfortunately, research shows that letters of recommendation at all levels of training and professional life commonly reflect biases that disadvantage women and students from groups underrepresented in medicine (UIM).1-6 We recommend utilizing this checklist to avoid potential bias in your recommendation letter.
Letters of Recommendation Checklist
Avoid
Recommend
Gendered Language
Describing men based on knowledge, skills, abilities, talent and women only based on their work effort, personality or interpersonal traits: caring, compassionate, hard-working, conscientious, dependable, diligent, dedicated, tactful, interpersonal, warm, helpful
Letters for men are more likely to emphasize accomplishments (‘his research’, ‘his skills,’ or ‘his career’) while letters for women are 50% more likely to include ‘grindstone’ adjectives that describe effort or focus on interpersonal relationships. 1, 4
DESCRIBE ALL students based on their knowledge, skills, and abilities: successful, accomplished, skilled, knowledgeable, insightful, resourceful, confident, ambitious, independent, intellectual.
REVIEW letters for gendered language and correct it.
Superlatives
Describing men or non-UIM students with superlatives (best, brightest, great, wonderful) and using faint praise such as ‘competent’ or ‘adequate’ for women and UIM students.
Letters for women are 2.5x as likely to make a minimal assurance (‘she can do the job’) rather than a ringing endorsement (‘she is the best for the job’). 1, 5
USE superlative language consistently across all applicants based on their performance and accomplishments.
Personal Life Depicted in Biased Way
Describing women’s personal life more than men.
Letters of reference for women are 7x more likely to mention personal life — something that is almost always irrelevant for the application. 1
CHECK with the student if you feel it would be helpful to the student to mention their personal or family life in a letter
USE a consistent approach toward discussing personal life with all students
Discrepancies in Letter Length
Letters written for women faculty and fellowship candidates are shorter than letters for men. 4
On average, letters for men are 16% longer than letters for women. 1, 4
REVIEW the length of your letters. Are your letters of similar length for women and men, and for students of different race/ethnicities?
References
1. University of Arizona Commission on the Status of Women. Avoiding gender bias in reference writing.
2. Akos P, Kretchmar J. Gender and ethnic bias in letters of recommendation: considerations for school counselors. ASCA Professional School Counselor. 20016-17;20:102-13.
3. Madera J et al. Gender and letters of recommendation for academia: Agentic and communal differences. Journal of Applied Psychology. 2009;94:1591-9.
4. Trix F, Psenka C. Exploring the color of glass: Letters of recommendation for female and male medical faculty. Discourse and Society. 2003;14:191-220.
5. Dutt K et al. Gender differences in recommendation letters for postdoctoral fellowships in geoscience. Nature Geoscience. 2016;16:805-9.
