Researchers from Indiana University Bloomington found that in industries which are highly sex-segregated such as science, tech and engineering, 'token' female employees showed chronic¹ dysregulation in their levels of cortisol, the stress hormone².

 

Previous research has shown that women working in fields made up of more than 85 per cent men face several challenges, including social isolation³, sexual harassment⁴, colleagues' doubts about their competence⁵, and a glass ceiling when it comes to promotions⁶.

 

"We find that such women are more likely to experience exposure to high levels of interpersonal, workplace stressors," researcher Bianca Manago said in a statement.

 

Prolonged exposure to these factors causes imbalances in the body's natural fluctuation⁷ of cortisol throughout the day, which is known to cause an increased vulnerability to disease and mortality in subjects.

 

Professor Cate Taylor said in a statement:

 

"Our project provides evidence that the negative workplace social climates encountered by women in male-dominated occupations may be linked to later negative health outcomes for these women."

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