OVERVALUATION AND UNDERVALUATION OF WOMEN JOB APPLICANTS - HOW GENERAL ARE THE VAGARIES OF SEX BIAS

Using a realistic managerial task, 288 college students evaluated a ma n or woman who was applying for a male sex-typed job: stockbroker or f ootball photographer. Applicants were either demonstrably skilled or u nknown in ability. Contrary to expectations, skilled women were not ov ervalued when compared with similarly skilled men. Additionally, women with inadequate information about their ability were not undervalued compared with men. No differences attributable to applicant sex were o btained. Ability information significantly improved ratings of stockbr oker applicants, but did not effect football photographer applicants. The generality of prior overvaluation findings obtained by Heilman, Ma rtell, and Simon (1988) is reexamined.