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Faculty Mentor

Katherine Raichle, PhD

Faculty Editor

Michael Spinetta, PhD

Student Editor

Emma Foster

Abstract

In light of the focus on women’s place in America, brought to national attention through the 2016 election and through research on women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (Moss-Racusin et al., 2012), this study seeks to examine the interaction of gender and sexist attitudes and behaviors. We deception-surveyed 85 university students (29 men, 58 women), initially under the guise as a memory test, in which they were to rate the competency, hireability, and recommended salary of one of two randomly-assigned resumes. Resumes were identical except in name; one was for “John” and the other for “Shannon.” Participants then completed three sexist attitude inventories. Females statistically significantly rated “Shannon” as far more hireable, and rated “Shannon” with a higher salary, than they did “John.” Males did not significantly rate one applicant as more or less hirable, or deserving of a higher or lower salary. Men statistically significantly scored as demonstrating more benevolent sexism towards other men than women. Possible overcompensation by both genders to reconcile both privileged and marginalized gender identification is discussed, together with other implications.

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