Students’ Address and Reference Term Choices for Female versus Male Professors

Abstract

Using four methodologies, with both students and professors as participants, we predicted and found that college students are more likely to address/reference female versus male professors by first name. The effect was not explained by perceptions of lower status/competence or greater warmth, but rather more student-professor interaction. When we made first-name-only references impractical, students actually used more formal reference terms for female than male professors. We discuss potential moderating variables and implications for female faculty work life.