According to a new study of M.B.A. candidates, single women tend to minimize their ambitions in the presence of men.

In the study, researchers asked students to complete a questionnaire about their career goals, telling some students that their answers would be shared only with a career counselor and others that their responses would be shared with their classmates.

The first group of students – whose answers would be kept private – showed similar responses from men and women about career expectations. The second group, however, revealed that single women would down play their goals and accomplishments more than men (and more interestingly, women in relationships).

The researchers speculate that this difference is due to the societal expectation that men want women who are less educated or accomplished than they are.  

To read the full article in The Wall Street Journal, click here.