Legitimizing role of the content of stereotypes in the gender pay gap

Abstract

Discrimination against women is widespread in contemporary societies, and unequal pay for the performance of the same functions suggests that this biasis socially accepted. We addressed the proposed problem that people spontaneously use gender stereotypes in a way that reinforces their motivation to reaffirm gender pay gaps. In Study 1 (N = 96), we showed that the simple act of justifying hiring favors the gender pay gap. In Study 2 (N = 298), we showed that this difference is mediated by the greater evocation of competence traits to justify hiring a male candidate. Study 3 (N = 382) revealed that the gender pay gap is moderated by a position in which the female candidate receives a higher salary when applying for a stereotypically masculine position. Study 4 (N = 303) confirmed this finding after the manipulation of stereotypic content associated with male and female candidates. In the discussion, we addressed the central role of the content of gender stereotypes as a justification for the gender pay gap and as a possible source for reversing the direction of this gap.