A groundbreaking study by NASA has revealed a striking gender disparity in how fatigue is perceived, highlighting that women's tiredness is often underestimated while men's is overestimated. This finding has significant implications for healthcare, workplace dynamics, and societal attitudes toward gendered expectations of emotional and physical labor.
The Study
The research, published in the journal Sex Roles, was initially designed to help NASA assess fatigue in astronauts, as tiredness is linked to increased accidents and errors in space and aviation. The study involved participants rating their own fatigue levels before engaging in a five-minute conversation. These interactions were recorded without sound and later shown to viewers, who were asked to gauge the speakers' tiredness based solely on non-verbal cues like body language and facial expressions.
The Findings
The study uncovered a significant gender bias in how fatigue is perceived:
Women reported higher levels of fatigue than men, yet their tiredness was underestimated by viewers.
Men's fatigue, on the other hand, was routinely overestimated.
Women’s fatigue was underestimated by an average of 1.3 points, while men’s was overestimated by 0.9 points.
Interestingly, those who displayed more non-verbal attentiveness and expressiveness were less likely to be perceived as tired. Women, who are generally more expressive due to societal conditioning, were judged as less fatigued despite reporting higher tiredness levels.
The Real-World Implications
The researchers concluded that this gender bias could have profound consequences, particularly in healthcare and workplace settings. Morgan D. Stosic, a research psychologist at NASA’s Johnson Space Center and the study's author, emphasized the potential harm this bias could cause:
"This disparity aligns with other studies showing how women’s health symptoms are often minimised or dismissed," Stosic told PsyPost. "This could lead to delays in diagnosis, mistakes in treatment, and make women less likely to report fatigue for fear of not being believed."
The findings also resonate with broader societal expectations placed on women to appear warm, nurturing, and empathetic, even when exhausted. Previous studies, such as one from the University of Kent in 2023, have shown that women in leadership roles are penalised for lacking warmth—standards not equally applied to men.
Why It Matters
Fatigue is more than just a feeling—it is associated with weakened immunity, heightened stress, and increased risks of chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease. Yet, as this study highlights, women’s experiences of tiredness are often minimised, perpetuating harmful gender norms and exacerbating health inequities.
To combat this bias, experts are calling for new ways to measure and acknowledge fatigue that mitigate gender disparities. In the meantime, the takeaway is clear: when someone says they’re tired—regardless of their gender—believe them.
This study underscores the urgent need to address systemic biases in health and everyday interactions, ensuring that all individuals receive the understanding and care they deserve.
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