Equality and Discrimination in the New World of Work

Abstract

Gig work is now the career context of a significant share of the workforce across the world but still remains a 'black box' in many respects. In this symposium, we discuss the issues of equality and discrimination in the gig economy from multiple perspectives. The contributions include both theoretical and empirical examinations, quantitative and qualitative approaches, and instances of discrimination both against gig workers and by gig workers. The first presentation in this symposium provides a new understanding of gig-work careers as ones in which labour is defined independent of jobholders and their social context, introducing new boundaries of inclusion and exclusion. The second study, considering the role of the selectors and the selection context, provides a theoretical model that suggests the possibility of both persistence and absence of hiring discrimination in online gig-work platforms. These theoretical propositions are then followed by two empirical papers, each of which supports one of the competing hypotheses. Finally, discriminatory behaviour is compared across gig-work and traditional careers to investigate the difference in customers' perceptions. Researchers and practitioners could benefit from the research findings and ideas discussed in this symposium, as presentations provide theoretical and actionable insights, showcase new evidence, and raise new questions. Beyond the 'Ideal Worker'? Algorithmic Technology, Radical Equality, and Precarization in the Gig Ec Presenter: Patrizia Zanoni; U. Hasselt Does Discrimination Persist in the New World of Work? A Model of Hiring Discrimination in Online Gig Presenter: Mehri E. Baloochi; U. of Manitoba Presenter: Lukas Neville; U. of Manitoba Presenter: Arran Caza; U. of North Carolina, Greensboro Race and Gender in the Gig Economy: Evidence from Online Language Tutoring Presenter: Nathaniel Ming Curran; The Hong Kong Polytechnic U. Presenter: Lichen Zhen; U. of Southern California Presenter: Hernan Galperin; U. of Southern California Managing Stigma without Constraint: Examining Identity Management Dynamics for LGBT Employees in the Presenter: Katina Sawyer; George Washington U. Presenter: Anjali Bansal; MICA, Ahmedabad Presenter: Christian Noble Thoroughgood; Villanova U. Discrimination in the Gig Economy: Who's to Blame for Behavior? Presenter: Courtney Bryant; Michigan State U. Presenter: Alice Brawley Newlin; Gettysburg College