Gender Assignment in Robots with Gender‐Neutral Appearance and Its Influence on Gender Image

Abstract The physical appearances of robots affect their interactions with humans. Several studies have been conducted on the interactions between gender‐assigned robots and humans, revealing that gender‐assigned robots may contribute to the reproduction of gender biases. This study examined the occurrence of gender bias induced by gender assignment to robots with a gender‐neutral appearance using items representing masculinity and femininity. In preliminary studies, the validity of illustrations as stimuli was assessed and items for assessing gender images were prepared. In the main study, whether the assignment of gender to robots with gender‐neutral appearances influenced gender image was investigated, revealing reproduction of gender bias. A total of 916 Japanese participants, aged 20–69 years (mean age = 45.29 years, SD = 14.11 years), responded to the questionnaire in an online survey. The introduction of robots with a gender‐neutral appearance was found to be unlikely to be effective in inhibiting the reproduction of gender bias.