What drives hiring discrimination against transgenders?

Hannah Van Borm and Stijn Baert

International Journal of Manpower, 2018, vol. 39, issue 4, 581-599

Abstract: Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to explore the mechanisms underlying hiring discrimination against transgender women. Design/methodology/approach - The authors conduct a scenario experiment in which fictitious hiring decisions are made about transgender or cisgender female job candidates. In addition, these candidates are scored on statements related to theoretical reasons for hiring discrimination given in the literature. The resulting data are analysed by means of a multiple mediation model. Findings - The results suggest that prejudices with respect to the health of transgender individuals mediate unfavourable treatment of them. However, this mechanism is compensated by a beneficial perception concerning transgender women’s autonomy and assertiveness. Social implications - Targeted policy measures are needed given the substantial labour market discrimination against transgender individuals measured in former studies. However, to combat this discrimination effectively, one needs to understand its underlying mechanisms. This study provides a first exploration of these mechanisms. Originality/value - This study innovates in being the first to explore the relative empirical importance of dominant (theoretical) explanations for hiring discrimination against transgender women. Thereby, the authors take the logical next step in the literature on labour market discrimination against transgender individuals.

Keywords: Hiring; Mediation analysis; Scenario experiment; Statistical discrimination; Taste-based discrimination; Transgender women (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eme:ijmpps:ijm-09-2017-0233

DOI: 10.1108/IJM-09-2017-0233

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