If/Then

Author: Stanford GSB

How do we lead with purpose, make better decisions, and navigate an uncertain future? On If/Then, Stanford GSB faculty break down cutting-edge research on leadership, strategy, and more, exploring enduring questions and the forces reshaping business and society today, from AI to geopolitics. Hosted by senior editor Kevin Cool.
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Genres: Business, Management, Science, Social Sciences

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The Paradox of Masculinity
Episode 49
Wednesday, 8 April, 2026

“Masculinity is my new frontier,” says Ashley Martin, an associate professor of organizational behavior at Stanford Graduate School of Business. Martin, whose work examines why gender plays such a central role in how we perceive and make sense of others, has been looking at how traits associated with masculinity are simultaneously organizationally rewarded even as they’re personally harmful to men. “We spend a lot of time talking about gender inequality through the lens of women’s disadvantage,” she says. “I think that many of the problems that we’re seeing today… are actually bound up in masculinity.” What impact do you think masculinity and femininity have on our work and our world? Tell us more at ifthenpod@stanford.edu.Related Content:Ashley Martin faculty profile Is that Self-Driving Car a Boy or a Girl? Why Taking Gender Out of the Equation Is So DifficultChapters:00:00 How movies shape our ideas about masculinity04:02 Introduction05:15 How Ashley Martin got into studying gender05:58 When gender is removed from hiring07:10 The “pet rock” study10:35 The universal use of gender13:02 Gendering objects15:12 How masculinity affects men18:13 The current implications of Martin’s research20:41 What healthier models of masculinity might look like23:47 Ashley’s next frontier: masculinity, material culture, and social problems25:07 ConclusionIf/Then, from Stanford GSB, features conversations with faculty that explore how their research deepens our understanding of business and leadership.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.