Making Way for Men: The Gendered Processes of Graduate Hiring in Elite Professional Service Firms in China

Abstract

Extensive research has been conducted on the reproduction of gender inequalities in professional hiring, despite the claim of meritocracy and commitment to equality in professional sectors. While the existing literature highlights the significance of understanding gender inequalities in the context of globalisation of professional firms and their practices, it has predominantly focused on the Anglo-Saxon context. There remains a gap in the literature regarding how gender inequalities are produced in professional hiring in the context of China. Drawing on qualitative material, this study explores the gendered processes of graduate hiring in elite professional firms in China. By applying the perspective of gender practices, this article elucidates how Chinese recruiters construct male favouritism and rig the selection process. The analysis sheds light on the processes that produce gender inequalities and hinder the progress of women in the context of growing competition and lack of support for women’s participation in professional work.