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Gender-Based Discrimination in Care Service Occupations: Result from an Online Experiment

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  • Duc Hien Nguyen

    (College of the Atlantic)

Abstract

In this study, we conducted an online experiment to investigate the effect of masculine and feminine gender expression on hiring in care service occupations. Participants were presented with fictional hiring scenarios and workers’ profiles and photos, which were manipulated to appear distinctively masculine or feminine. For personal care services, we found that Asian masculine photo and Black feminine photo received the highest interview selection rates, while White feminine photo received the lowest. The typical gap was about 10–20 percentage points, equivalent to a 30–50% increase, and in the same order of magnitude as having one additional year of experience or having a community college degree. Our mediation analysis suggests that this effect was mediated by perceived gender expression and race and moderated by workers’ racial identity and the hiring occupation, but there are residual differences attributable to idiosyncratic features of the photos. While alternative explanations cannot be entirely ruled out, our findings are consistent with diminishing marginal return to masculinity and indicative that the social organization of care is not only gendered but also racialized.

Suggested Citation

  • Duc Hien Nguyen, 2025. "Gender-Based Discrimination in Care Service Occupations: Result from an Online Experiment," Journal of Economics, Race, and Policy, Springer, vol. 8(2), pages 109-137, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:joerap:v:8:y:2025:i:2:d:10.1007_s41996-024-00163-1
    DOI: 10.1007/s41996-024-00163-1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Andreas Ortmann & Ralph Hertwig, 2002. "The Costs of Deception: Evidence from Psychology," Experimental Economics, Springer;Economic Science Association, vol. 5(2), pages 111-131, October.
    2. Luca Fumarco & Benjamin Harrell & Patrick Button & David Schwegman & E Dils, 2020. "Gender Identity, Race, and Ethnicity-based Discrimination in Access to Mental Health Care: Evidence from an Audit Correspondence Field Experiment," NBER Working Papers 28164, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    3. Marianne Bertrand & Sendhil Mullainathan, 2004. "Are Emily and Greg More Employable Than Lakisha and Jamal? A Field Experiment on Labor Market Discrimination," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 94(4), pages 991-1013, September.
    4. repec:sae:mrxval:v:53:y:2019:i:4:p:1230-1258 is not listed on IDEAS
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    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • C90 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - General
    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
    • 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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