Buffers of Threat for Women in STEM: Implications for STEM Environments Sexism has negative consequences including maladaptive cardiovascular reactivity, inhibited motivation, and decreased performance. In two studies, we tested potential buffers of women's reactions to sexism including risk-taking and motivation to confront prejudice. In Study 1, women STEM majors (N = 158) took a math test under identity threat or safety conditions. In Study 2, women (N = 77) engaged in a virtual interaction with a male confederate who made a sexist or neutral comment. We measured cardiovascular reactivity to assess challenge and threat (Studies 1 & 2), math performance (Study 1), and cortical asymmetry to assess motivation (Study 2). Results indicated women with higher risk-taking showed greater challenge responses and better math performance under threat than women lower in risk-taking. Further, women with higher motivation to confront prejudice showed greater cardiovascular challenge and approach motivation under threat compared to women with lower motivation. Findings suggest greater risk-taking and motivation to confront prejudice may buffer effects of gender threats, which could be explored in interventions to recruit and retain women in STEM. Bettina J. Casad, Ph.D. *Pronouns: She/her (and why I put this here<https://www.mypronouns.org/what-and-why/>) Director, Behavioral Neuroscience Graduate Program Associate Professor, Department of Psychological Sciences Faculty Affiliate, Gender Studies Program Member, Center for Neurodynamics University of Missouri, St. Louis One University Boulevard 412 Stadler Hall St. Louis, MO 63121-4499 Office: (314) 516-4504 Lab: (314) 516-5386 Fax: (314) 516-5392 Web: https://www.umsl.edu/psychology/snair-lab/index.html Behavioral Neuroscience Graduate Program: https://www.umsl.edu/psychology/graduate-programs/behavioral/index.html Certificate Programs: http://www.umsl.edu/psychology/undergraduate-certificates/neuroscience-certificate.html http://www.umsl.edu/psychology/undergraduate-certificates/workplace-certificate.html http://www.umsl.edu/~genderstudies/Admission/genderundergrads.html