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Is the school workforce biased against men?

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  • Fullard, Joshua

Abstract

We test for gender discrimination in the School Workforce in England by asking teachers to evaluate fictitious applicants for three hypothetical positions in their school (Teaching Assistant, Classroom Teacher and Headteacher). We find that male applicants are evaluated less favourably than female applicants. The gender difference in evaluations decreases with seniority – for Headteacher roles male and female applicants are evaluated similarly. These findings suggest that minority groups can experience more discrimination for lower-level jobs.

Suggested Citation

  • Fullard, Joshua, 2025. "Is the school workforce biased against men?," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 251(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolet:v:251:y:2025:i:c:s0165176525001740
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econlet.2025.112337
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mladen Adamovic & Andreas Leibbrandt, 2023. "A large‐scale field experiment on occupational gender segregation and hiring discrimination," Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 62(1), pages 34-59, January.
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    7. Heilman, Madeline E. & Martell, Richard F., 1986. "Exposure to successful women: Antidote to sex discrimination in applicant screening decisions?," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 37(3), pages 376-390, June.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • C99 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Other
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J71 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Discrimination - - - Hiring and Firing

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