Sex Discrimination and Female Top Managers: Evidence from China

Huasheng Gao, Yaheng Lin and Yujing Ma (mayu0008@e.ntu.edu.sg)
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Yujing Ma: Nanyang Technological University

Journal of Business Ethics, 2016, vol. 138, issue 4, No 5, 683-702

Abstract: Abstract We examine whether sex discrimination contributes to the underrepresentation of female executives in large corporations. China’s strong cultural preference for sons has made newborn boys greatly outnumber newborn girls. Using the male-to-female sex ratio at birth as the proxy for discrimination against women, we find that firms headquartered in more discriminatory areas hire fewer female executives. Even conditional on a woman reaching an executive position, she faces a higher likelihood of dismissal and receives lower compensation than her male counterparts. Overall, our findings suggest that sex discrimination plays an important role in preventing women from climbing the corporate ladder.

Keywords: Sex discrimination; Female executives; Gender; Sex ratio; Executive compensation; Turnover; China (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: G30 J71 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (24)

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DOI: 10.1007/s10551-015-2892-x

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