The Effect of Sex on College Admission, Work Evalution, and Job Interviews

Abstract

Studies have repeatedly shown that girls lead boys in general intellectual development (1, 7, 9) as well as early academic achievement (3, 5, 10, 13). On the basis of such evidence, women might anticipate preferential treatment in events related to academic performance. Women have insisted, however, that they are discrimi nated against in academia as elsewhere. Three experiments2 were designed to investigate whether or not their contention is true. The studies attempted to determine: Are women discriminated against in college admissions? Are the creative productions of women underrated? Does the PhD candidate have equal opportunity for employ ment regardless of sex? The answer to these questions is compelling: The results indicate that unless a woman is of unusual ability and/or is an acknowledged success, she must expect to be treated inequitably.