Gender-based discrimination in the workplace is a frequent topic of conversation, but typically the conversation involves discrimination against women.  New research from the University of California, Irvine reminds us that it can also go the other way too.

The research found that when men apply for jobs in female-dominated occupations, they tend to be viewed less favorably than female applicants.

“We see that there are obstructions to men entering certain parts of the labor market. In the application process, we don’t see any discrimination against women who want to get into male-dominated occupations. But we find considerable discrimination against men in female-dominated occupations,” the researchers say.

Jobs for the girls

The researchers submitted over 3,200 fictitious applications to real job openings across Sweden, before noting whether the applicants received a response or not, and if so, what the response was.

The results reveal clearly apparent discrimination against male applicants in professions such as nursing and preschool teaching, with the worst discrimination found in house cleaning work.  In traditionally male-dominated professions, such as truck driving, auto mechanic, and IT developer, however, there appeared to be no discrimination against female applicants.

The authors suggest that their findings are broadly in line with those from previous work that has also highlighted discrimination against men trying to work in female-dominated occupations.  They believe their work covers a sufficiently broad range of professions to make their findings particularly noteworthy.

“That men’s applications – not women’s – are eliminated in the application process is interesting. We already know that women are disadvantaged in the labor market in terms of salary and promotions. So, the follow-up question is, what happens along the way? That would be interesting to look at, but it’s not something our study can shed light on,” the researchers conclude.