Chapter 2

Frame Spotter

Job ads frame roles using different kinds of language.
The framing is more subtle than you might expect.

Researchers classify job ad language into two categories:

Warmth . caring, supportive, collaborative, empathetic, nurturing

Competence . decisive, analytical, ambitious, innovative, strategic

You will read realistic job ads from five sectors. Each ad mixes both types of language, but one category dominates. Your task is to identify which framing leads the ad. After each sector, you will see what the research actually found.

Does this ad lean more toward warmth or competence framing?

WarmthCompetence

The pattern across sectors

Warmth vs. competence framing in job advertisements

WarmthCompetence
Key finding: Job ads in female-dominated sectors use significantly more warmth language, while male-dominated sectors lean on competence language. This framing is not neutral. It mirrors and reinforces existing gender stereotypes, potentially discouraging cross-gender applicants before they even apply.

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