The role of appearance in selection for sex-typed jobs
Abstract
Madeline Heilman's (1983) Lack of Fit Model, which postulates why discrimination occurs in the selection of sex-typed jobs, has been applied to the interaction of applicant attractiveness. Yet recent research suggests that other appearance variables, namely sex-typed facial features, may be associated with perceptions of fit. Building upon Heilman's 1983 model, the current study evaluated how sex-typed facial features relate to applicant selection for sex-typed fields. Undergraduate students were recruited for participation during the spring academic semester (n = 413) and data were analyzed using a 2x2x2 ANOVA. Results indicated that selection is significantly impacted by the three-way interaction of applicant sex, facial feature-type, and sex-type of the applying field. Further, masculine-featured females and feminine featured males were significantly less favored for selection within the feminine sex-typed field. Implications of these findings and the differential evaluation of male and female applicants in a feminine field are discussed.
Degree
M.S.
Advisors
Stockdale, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Social psychology
Off-Campus Purdue Users:
To access this dissertation, please log in to our
proxy server.