Study Reveals Gender Bias in Online Reviews, Women Less Likely To Share Negative Feedback
A recent study by researchers from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Erasmus School of Economics, and The Hebrew University of Jerusalem has uncovered a significant gender gap in online reviews. Women consistently give higher ratings on platforms like Amazon, Google, and Yelp compared to men, potentially skewing perceptions of products and services.
The study, published in Nature Human Behavior, analyzed over 1.2 billion online reviews and conducted lab experiments to explore the reasons behind the gap. The findings suggest that women are more reluctant to share negative feedback due to societal pressures to avoid backlash, despite no significant differences in product satisfaction between genders.
Researchers noted that women’s average ratings were approximately 0.1 stars higher on a 5-point scale, which can lead to significant shifts in product rankings and economic outcomes for businesses.
The study emphasized the need for platforms to create more inclusive spaces where women feel comfortable expressing dissatisfaction. Suggestions included allowing anonymous reviews while balancing the risks of fostering toxic environments.
