Gender Discrimination in Real Hiring Process

Abstract

This study investigates the prevalence of gender discrimination in the recruitment process in the real world. The main objective of this study is to determine the existence and extent of gender bias against females in the recruitment process, especially when compared to males. Through a field experiment, this study analyzed the application results collected from 100 fictitious male and female employee resumes submitted to 50 real estate companies in Shanghai. The presence and degree of gender discrimination were determined by comparing the application results of different resumes. Particular attention was paid to the feedback received by virtual women who indicated family intentions in their resumes. Through rigorous analysis, it was determined that female employees, especially those who indicated family plans, received significantly fewer responses than male applicants, regardless of whether the male applicants indicated family plans. Based on these findings, it is clear that gender disparities are evident during the hiring process in basic-level positions such as those in the real estate industry. These results highlight the need to ensure equal opportunities and equity for female employees in the recruitment process.