2 Why do men tend to get higher performance ratings than women? Performance reviews are often subjective, which opens the door to gender bias. In the following article, the author argues that subjectivity can lead to the application of biases in ratings: ‘I found that these biases can lead to double standards, in that a situation can get a positive or a negative spin, depending on gender. In one review I read, the manager noted, “Heidi seems to shrink when she’s around others, and especially around clients, she needs to be more self-confident”. But a similar problem — confidence in working with clients — was given a positive spin when a man was struggling with it: “Jim needs to develop his natural ability to work with people”.’’