Perceptions of promotion fairness and promotion candidates' qualifications.

Abstract

A sample of 336 undergraduate students (168 women and 168 men) read summaries of fictitious court cases prompted by 1 of 4 possible promotion decisions in 1 of 3 different jobs or occupations. Subjects assessed the fairness of the promotion decision and the qualifications of the promoted and nonpromoted employees. Women and men perceived promotion of a member of the opposite sex instead of a member of their own sex as significantly less fair than any of the other 3 possible promotion decisions (opposite sex instead of opposite sex, same sex instead of same sex, or same sex instead of opposite sex). Perceptions of promotion candidates' qualifications, however, were not influenced by sex, job sex type (masculine vs. sex neutral), or promotion decision or by any interactions of these variables