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Research ArticleArticles

Do Workers Discriminate against Female Bosses?

View ORCID ProfileMartin Abel
Journal of Human Resources, March 2024, 59 (2) 470-501; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3368/jhr.1120-11318R3
Martin Abel
Martin Abel is an assistant professor of economics at Bowdoin College ().
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Abstract

I hire 2,700 workers for a transcription job, randomly assigning the gender of their (fictitious) manager and provision of performance feedback. While praise has no effect, criticism negatively impacts workers’ job satisfaction and perception of the task’s importance. When female managers deliver this feedback, negative effects on these attitudes double in magnitude. Having a critical female manager does not affect effort provision, but it lowers workers’ interest in working for the firm in the future. Results are consistent with gendered expectations of feedback. I find no evidence for the role of attention discrimination or implicit gender bias.

JEL Classification:
  • J50
  • J70
  • Received November 2020.
  • Accepted October 2021.
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Journal of Human Resources: 59 (2)
Journal of Human Resources
Vol. 59, Issue 2
1 Mar 2024
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Do Workers Discriminate against Female Bosses?
Martin Abel
Journal of Human Resources Mar 2024, 59 (2) 470-501; DOI: 10.3368/jhr.1120-11318R3

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Do Workers Discriminate against Female Bosses?
Martin Abel
Journal of Human Resources Mar 2024, 59 (2) 470-501; DOI: 10.3368/jhr.1120-11318R3
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    • I. Introduction
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Keywords

  • J50
  • J70
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