Both men and women can be victims of gender discrimination if they apply for jobs traditionally held by the opposite sex. For instance, if a man in California decides to be a housekeeper, he may have a harder time getting the job because of his gender. The same could be true of a woman who wants to be a janitor or work in another industry dominated by males.
That was the key takeaway of a study conducted by an assistant professor at the University of North Carolina Charlotte. She sent out 3,000 job applications usually held by those in the working or middle classes. The positions were selected because of their tendency to attract individuals of one gender over the other. Among jobs in the janitorial and industrial fields, men were called back for interviews 44 percent more often than women.
Men were also more likely to get an interview if an employer wanted someone who had physical strength. When it came to housekeeping or customer service jobs, women were 21 percent more likely to be called for an interview compared to a man. According to the professor responsible for the study, gender bias in the working world can have a negative impact on men as well as women.
Generally speaking, an applicant’s gender can’t be considered when making an employment decision. This may include decisions related to hiring, promoting or terminating an individual. If an employee believes that an employer is treating him or her differently based on gender, it may be appropriate to file a complaint. If an internal complaint is not successful, it may be possible to file a lawsuit. Legal counsel could help a worker collect compensation through a settlement or jury verdict.