Network Inequalities: Why Cohesiveness Hurts Women (and Helps Men) to Get Ideas Funded

In order to work on and implement new ideas, idea creators usually need funding. Provided that there are limited resources, however, not every idea can and will be selected for funding. In this study, we explore in what ways the network cohesion of an idea creator may influence idea funding decisions, and how these funding decisions differ between female and male idea creators. For this purpose, we analyze data on research proposals which were submitted to a national science foundation by early-career scholars in 2014 and 2015. We argue that the effects of network cohesion on the idea creator’s competence (as perceived by idea assessors) are positive for male idea creators, but negative for female idea creators. In addition, we suggest that the effect of perceived competence on idea funding is stronger for male idea creators compared to female idea creators. Controlling for the assessed quality of the research idea, we find confirmation for our moderation hypotheses. Our findings demonstrate the complex ways in which gender bias continues to influence idea funding decisions, ultimately disadvantaging the development of ideas proposed by women.