A Nother Ceiling? Can Males Compete for Traditionally Female Jobs?

Abstract

Subjects ranked hypothetical male and female job applicants for top- and mid-level management positions in a traditionally female job. Consistent with a “lack of fit” explanation, over one-fourth of the raters selected a less-qualified female over a more qualified male for both the top-level and mid-level jobs. Additionally, those subjects with management experience tended to make decisions favoring the less-qualified female more often than those without management experience. Results suggested that males may suffer from discrimination in traditionally female jobs similar to that faced by females in traditionally male jobs.