The Influence of Gender Role Attitudes on Perceptions of Women's Work Performance and the Importance of Fair Pay

Abstract

Gender role attitudes and their influence on perceptions of male and female work performance are important aspects understanding workplace gender inequality. Reskin (2000) suggests researchers must look to non-conscious causes in order to understand and alleviate gender inequality in the workplace. Also critical to understanding workplace gender inequality is the differential importance placed on being paid fairly. Using a survey sample of 525 traditional undergraduate students from a public university in the middle south of the United States consisting of approximately one-third African Americans and two-thirds whites, race and sex differences are examined. The more liberal the respondent in terms of gender roles, the less they perceived performance inferiority of females. Excluding white males, those more liberal on gender roles perceived fair pay as more important. Gender differences are stronger among whites. Implications for the gender inequities at work are discussed.