The Influence of Gender Stereotype and Attitudes on Hiring Decisions in the Lebanese Workplace

Abstract

This study examines gender stereotype in employment in Lebanese firms. Attitudes towards women, social dominance orientation and demographic characteristics of Recruitment Decision Maker (RDM) can have a significant impact on hiring decisions toward women in Lebanon and Middle Eastern societies. This study considers each of these and determines their impact on the choice of employment when candidates’ qualifications are identical with the exception of gender. Data was collected from a survey conducted on managers in different Lebanese firms. Results showed that the gender of the Recruitment Decision Maker affects the hiring decisions when choosing between two candidates of different gender. Furthermore, a significant relationship between the attitude toward women and the hiring selection between male and female has also been noted. We have also detected stereotyping attitudes toward job types where males are considered more favorable for certain job profiles.

Keywords: Gender stereotype, employment, Lebanese firms, attitudes, women, recruitment, hiring selection, decision making.