Gender bias in hiring continues

Bosses who do not believe sexism holds back women’s careers are more likely to give jobs to men, a study based on recruitment for top French science research posts found last week.

The results suggested that training hiring managers about sexist discrimination in the workplace could be a key factor in overcoming it, said researchers behind the study published in the journal Nature Human Behaviour.

“Our evidence suggests that when people recognise women might face barriers, they are more able to put aside their own biases,” said Toni Schmader, a psychology professor at the University of British Columbia in Canada involved in the study.

Women remain under-represented in science and technology and are also less likely to be promoted into senior positions. The study then examined decisions made by 40 hiring committees over two years.

It found committees whose members believed that women faced structural barriers in the workplace were more likely to overcome any subconscious biases. — Reuters