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Gender Preference
Gender Preference
Gender Preference
INTRODUCTION
Gender preference in employment has become a significant area of research and concern, as it
raises questions about fairness, equality, and inclusivity in the workforce. Despite progress
towards gender equality in many aspects of society, biases and preferences based on gender
continue to persist within employment settings. The issue of gender preference in employment
stems from societal norms and expectations that shape individuals' perceptions of suitable jobs
based on gender. These norms are often reinforced through socialization processes and the
certain job roles with specific genders, creating preconceived notions about the suitability of men
Occupational segregation refers to the concentration of men and women in different job sectors
or roles. Extensive research has shown persistent patterns of occupational segregation across
industries, indicating that certain fields are dominated by one gender (Blau & Kahn, 2017). The
choose careers aligned with their gender-majority occupational groups. Work-life balance and
Traditional gender roles and societal expectations often place a higher burden of family and
caregiving responsibilities on women, which can influence their career choices (Bianchi et al.,
2019). Women may prioritize job characteristics that offer flexibility and support for work-life
balance, such as part-time or remote work options. Conversely, men may be more inclined to
seek positions with higher earning potential, regardless of work-life balance considerations.
threat and bias are additional factors that significantly impact gender preferences in employment.
Stereotype threat refers to the fear of confirming negative stereotypes associated with one's
social group, which can influence individuals' career choices and aspirations (Steele, 1997). Bias,
both explicit and implicit, in the workplace can create barriers for individuals seeking
employment opportunities outside of the gender norms associated with certain roles. These
psychological factors affect the decisions of both employers and workers, perpetuating gender
preferences in employment.
The presence of gender preferences in employment raises concerns about fairness, equality, and
inclusivity in the workforce. Despite advancements in gender equality, biases and preferences
based on gender continue to persist, impacting hiring decisions, career aspirations, and
organizational dynamics. This study aims to investigate the extent of gender preferences in
employment and identify the underlying factors that contribute to these preferences among
workers. The research will explore various factors including socialization, gender stereotypes,
occupational segregation, work-life balance considerations, and the influence of stereotype threat
and bias. The findings of this research will contribute to the existing body of knowledge by
uncovering the mechanisms that perpetuate gender preferences and will provide guidance to
stereotypes, and create an inclusive work environment that offers equal opportunities to
Objectives
iii. To propose strategies for promoting gender equality and inclusivity in the workforce
To what extent do gender preferences exist in the employment of workers across different
How do gender preferences impact hiring decisions, career aspirations, and organizational
What are the implications of gender preferences in employment for achieving gender equality
and inclusivity?
What strategies and interventions can be implemented to mitigate biases, challenge stereotypes,
and foster equal opportunities for individuals of all genders in the workforce?
This study is expected to provide a guideline for employers who prefer one gender of workers to
the other based on their efficiency qualities and attributes. It will significantly bring to the fore of
its readers a scientific evidence of formerly unsubstantiated facts on related issues concerning the
relationship among workers (of both gender) and their managers. It will help the researcher to
know how workers employed in the past and use it to compare their future findings in order to
make adequate recommendations. The student, workers, manager and researchers who may want
to carry out further research in the area of study will use it as a reference material.
The study was restricted to gender preference in the employment of workers. The researcher is
The researcher encountered a few constrains in the process of caring out this research. However,
of mention here is the financial involvement and time constraints and because of these, the study
Gender Preferences: Refers to the subjective inclinations, biases, or tendencies individuals may
beliefs, and perceptions that influence individuals' choices, decisions, and behaviors related to
Employment: The act or process of being engaged in paid work or occupation, either as an
employee or self-employed. It encompasses various job roles, positions, and industries in which
Socialization: The process through which individuals acquire and internalize societal norms,
values, beliefs, and behaviors. It involves learning and adopting social expectations and roles,
including those related to gender, through interactions with family, peers, education, and broader
cultural influences.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
The purpose is to explore and understand how organizations practice gender equality and
therefore it is important to give insights to the different parts of the concept, as well as its
Sex is referred to a person’s biological and physiological characteristics that define men and
“socially constructed roles, behaviors, activities, and attributes that a given society considers
(WHO, 2015). How people perceive the differences between sexes will not differ extensively
between different societies, on the contrary the perceptions of gender can vary greatly (WHO,
2015). The development and recreation of gender takes place at the individual, cultural and
societal level. They are all equally important as people shape these gender roles and norms
through activities and reproduce them by adjusting to the expectations of the gender we belong
to (Council of Europe, 2004, p.8; Genus, 2012). We have chosen to use the term gender instead
of sex, as our purpose is not to study the biological characteristics, also we agree that gender is a
The phenomenon gender is historical, as it has been known for many centuries. Gender is not
only interpreted differently within different cultures and time, it also continues to develop and is
in a constant change. Social science is a part of culture, thus influences how gender will be
practiced and understood in the future. The ratio of men respectively women working as
managers, nurses, housekeepers and engineers is affected by social practices and cultural ideas
rather than genes. Social science is combined with cultural ideas and therefore the development
In the pre-industrial era men and women had specific work and there were even some work that
only one gender was allowed to do. For instance women were the only ones allowed to milk
cows in Sweden until this century. Men did not want to do women's work as they would loose
status and prestige, something that women could rarely get as it was only related to men's jobs.
Segregation between genders is no longer as common but it exists in some industries where there
are still ideas about what is regarded as women's work and men's work (Alvesson & Billing,
1997). As mentioned by Alvesson & Billing (1997) “…the career-oriented person, giving
priority to work over family matters, may be preferable in the business world, as a strong
The council of Europe is Europe's leading organization within human rights where Sweden has
been a member since the start in 1949. Gender equality is one of the values within human rights
”Gender equality means an equal visibility, empowerment and participation of both sexes in all
accepting and valuing the differences between the two genders and the diverse roles they have in
society. Accomplishing gender equality is an essential factor in the protection of human rights
(Council of Europe, 2004). Human rights refer to every person having the right to be
independent, not discriminated and have the equal rights and obligations (UN, 2015). Both men
and women need to acknowledge the need to remove the unbalances that exists in society, they
GenderEquality within organizations Frink et al. (2003,) found that a gender equal workforce
was beneficial for organizations. Their hypothesis that organizations with a gender equal
organization with an uneven distribution of the genders, was supported. Campbell & Minguez-
Vera (2008,) further found that gender diversity among board members has a positive impact on
an organizations' firm value. It is highlighted that there is a need to establish a more equal
distribution between men and women. This phenomenon have been further confirmed by
Kakabadse et al. (2015) who found that gender diverse boards have several nonfinancial
benefits, for example higher corporate reputation, improved decision making and better use of
talents.
In reference to using the distinction between genders, Kakabadse et al. (2015) was researching
the perceptions amongst female directors regarding the use of female quotas when selecting
board members. Their result showed that it was important to employ more women on the boards,
but quotas were not the appropriate way to accomplish it. The general idea amongst the female
directors was that they perceived themselves as individuals and wanted to be chosen based on
their knowledge and experiences, not because of their gender (Kakabadse et al., 2015,).
Another criticism to gender and the practice of it, is that the discussions and statements are based
on personal values and never politically neutral (Alvesson & Billing, 1997). Not to consider
gender is a political action, likewise it is if you choose to study gender or to use a clear
distinction between men and women. There might be different distinctions for different people,
for instance, sexual orientation, ethnicity and age can be as important to some people as male and
female is for others. Some might not want to separate men and women arguing that humans are
universal rather than two sexes (Alvesson & Billing, 1997) As mentioned before, we have
however chosen to use the concept of gender as socially constructed attributes of male and
female.
When looking at the people in our society they do not only differ in gender. People have other
demographic variables such as age, ethnicity, religion and socioeconomic background (George &
Jones, 2012). All of these different demographic variables can contribute to a variety of different
viewpoints that can be an advantage for organizations (Emmott & Worman, 2008). To meet the
purpose, hence to more thoroughly understand gender equality and the usage of it, we will
elaborate further on the attributes of workforce diversity below, as gender equality is a part of
that.
In the search for literature regarding gender equality we found that there was also an emphasis on
workforce diversity. Referring to the purpose we want to understand how organizations practice
CSR focusing on the statutory equality plan and gender equality policies. Hence, since gender is
a part of workforce diversity, it would be unwise not to consider workforce diversity. The
“a mixed workforce that provides a wide range of abilities, experience, knowledge, and strengths
due to its heterogeneity in age, background, ethnicity, physical abilities, political and religious
(Business Dictionary, 2015). This reflects that sex, which we refer to as gender, is only one part
of the concept. Workforce diversity is the reality for organizations, their employees and
managers as all people are different (Williams & O’Reilly, 1998, pp. 120-121). How
Homan et al., (2007) where workforce diversity does certainly promote social interaction, work
group performance and innovation when group members themselves believe in the value of
workforce diversity. To benefit from the positive sides of workforce diversity it is therefore of
great importance to make the employees value the workforce diversity that exists within a group.
They emphasize that these values start with the management beliefs and need to be
The literature is replete with references to the concepts of work values/ goals/ norms/ outcomes,
as all of these deals with the importance that individuals attach to different aspects of their work
life (Sharabi & Harpaz 2002). Among these are interesting work, security, variety, pay, and
interpersonal relations. Much research has been carried out on these aspects, and they have been
defined and characterized differently by many scholars of various approaches (Sharabi & Harpaz
2002). Despite the difference in studies, views, and terminology considering work
goals/values/ preferences, etc., they all deal with specific work values’ outcomes. Comparison
between those views shows that 'good pay' and 'job security' are generally instrumental or
materialistic goals (namely extrinsic or hygienic) and 'interesting job', 'variety', and
motivational). I use Locke and Henne’s (1986) definition that goals are the mechanism
through which values are converted into action. Consequently, work goals may be regarded as a
the sort of goals individuals seek from work may shed light on the fundamental question of why
people work. A useful way of understanding what is important to people in their working life is
to focus on a uniform set of work goals, or facets of work, and to ascertain how important each
of them is to individuals (MOW 1987; Harpaz 1990). The term ‘Work Goals' Importance’
means the relative importance for individuals of various goals and values sought through work
(MOW 1987). Work goals, such as expressive goals, instrumental and comfort goals, and
For many years, it has been debated whether gender roles are a product of socialization or a
women’s nature makes them more capable of being domestic and raising children than men and
less suitable to a work life that requires competitiveness, aggressiveness and organizational
politics (Sharabi & Harpaz 2011b). Many other studies indicate that gender roles are the result of
socialization processes which occur throughout an individual’s life and especially during
early childhood. These gender differences depend on culture and change over time according to
social trends. Gender role socialization guides individuals to "feminine" and "masculine”
occupations (Hesse-Biber & Carter 2004; Konrad et al. 2000). Several studies have found that
for women the centrality of work is significantly lower than for men (Mannheim et al.; Harpaz
1990), especially among men and women with children (Snir, Harpaz, & Ben-Baruch 2009).
Harpaz & Fu (1997) found that men in the US, Germany, Japan and Israel had a higher work
centrality than women. MOW (1987) found similar gender differences in eight countries and
therefore we may conclude that this is a universal phenomenon. The responsibility for the
family's economic well-being is normatively perceived as men's duty, leading them to prefer
work over family as a central life domain (Hesse-Biber & Carter 2004; Sharabi & Harpaz
2009a). On the other hand, the responsibility for the family's social needs, providing the
single women show a higher work centrality than married women, especially mothers,
reflecting the impact of marriage and childbirth on the tendency to prefer family over work as a
central life domain (Snir, Harpaz, & Ben-Baruch 2009; Sharabi & Harpaz 2011b).
Regarding other work goals, Konrad et al. (2000) found significant gender differences on 33 of
40 job attribute preferences examined, based on a meta-analysis of 242 samples from the US
between 1970 and 1998. Overall, men and boys preferred promotion, power and autonomy,
while women and girls preferred interpersonal relationships, helping others, and a positive
work environment. These findings were generally consistent with gender roles and
stereotypes. Relating to non-gender-type goals, the researchers also found that women prefer
variety, interest, using their abilities and personal growth while men prefer leisure. Warr (2008)
found that men gave higher importance to responsibility and opportunities for promotion,
achievement and initiative while women preferred interpersonal relationships. Based on the
1997 "International Social Survey Programme" data from 14 countries (including Israel),
Corrigall & Konrad's (2006) found that men assigned higher preference to independence
while women favored sociability. Contrary to Warr (2008) and Konrad et al. (2000), they
did not find gender differences regarding advancement and promotion preferences. On the
other hand, Gunkel et al. (2007) found few gender differences related to work goals in the US
and Germany. Opportunity for advancement was more important only among men in production
in the US. Co-operation was more important only among German and American women in
production. Working relationships with the manager and use of skills and abilities were more
administration.
frameworks provide insights into the underlying mechanisms and dynamics involved. These
frameworks offer varying perspectives on the origins and perpetuation of gender biases in
occupational preferences.
employment. Social role theory suggests that gender differences in occupational preferences and
behavior arise from societal expectations and division of labor (Eagly & Wood, 2013). This
theory posits that individuals internalize gender norms and conform to prescribed roles, leading
occupational preferences (Diekman & Eagly, 2008). These theoretical frameworks provide
lenses through which to analyze the factors influencing gender preference in employment.
Social role theory posits that gender differences in occupational preferences and behavior arise
from societal expectations and the division of labor (Eagly & Wood, 2013). According to this
theory, individuals learn gender-specific roles and behaviors through socialization processes,
leading to the internalization of cultural norms. For example, boys are often encouraged to
pursue careers in STEM fields, while girls are directed towards nurturing and caregiving
occupations. These learned roles and expectations contribute to the perpetuation of gender-based
occupational preferences.
Cognitive approaches focus on cognitive processes, such as gender schema and self-
suggests that individuals develop mental frameworks (schemas) that organize and guide their
understanding of gender roles and behaviors (Diekman & Eagly, 2008). These schemas influence
the interpretation of occupational information and guide individuals' preferences and aspirations.
For instance, if someone's gender schema associates engineering with masculinity, they may be
more inclined to view engineering as a suitable career path if they identify as male. Self-
categorization theory explores how individuals identify themselves in relation to gender groups
and how this influences their occupational preferences. People tend to categorize themselves as
belonging to specific social groups, such as "women" or "men," and seek to conform to the
norms and behaviors associated with these groups (Turner, Hogg, Oakes, Reicher, & Wetherell,
1987). This categorization process can influence individuals' occupational preferences, as they
may strive to select careers perceived as congruent with their gender identity.
2.3.3 Intersectionality:
Intersectionality theory highlights the interconnected nature of social identities, such as gender,
race, ethnicity, and class, and how they intersect to shape individuals' experiences and
intersectionality recognizes that gender biases are influenced by multiple intersecting factors. For
example, women from marginalized racial or ethnic backgrounds may face additional barriers
and biases that compound the challenges they encounter in the workforce. Examining gender
preference through an intersectional lens acknowledges the complex interplay of various social
Stereotypes and biases play a significant role in shaping gender preference in employment.
Stereotypes regarding gender and job suitability contribute to the underrepresentation of certain
for example, perpetuates the belief that leadership positions are more suited to men, thereby
influencing hiring and promotion decisions (Eagly & Karau, 2002). Implicit biases, such as the
association of women with communal traits and men with agentic traits, also influence
occupational preferences (Burgess, Borgida, & Moffitt, 2018). Recognizing and challenging
these biases are essential steps towards creating a more inclusive and unbiased work
environment.
2.3.5 Organizational Culture and Policies
employment. The presence of gender bias in recruitment, promotion, and performance evaluation
processes can perpetuate gender imbalances within organizations (Biernat & Fuegen, 2001).
Family-friendly policies, such as flexible work arrangements and parental leave, can contribute
to the attraction and retention of a diverse workforce (Powell & Graves, 2003). Creating an
inclusive organizational culture that values diversity and supports work-life balance is crucial for
Additionally, exploring the intersectionality of gender with other factors, such as race and
society can strive towards creating a more equitable and inclusive workforce.
Numerous studies have documented the existence of gender bias in employment. For example,
research consistently shows that certain occupations continue to be heavily dominated by one
gender, creating gender imbalances in various industries (e.g., STEM fields, healthcare, and
education) (Ceci, Ginther, Kahn, & Williams, 2014; Stout, Dasgupta, Hunsinger, & McManus,
2011). Other studies have found evidence of implicit biases, where individuals exhibit
unconscious preferences for specific genders in hiring, promotion, and performance evaluations
(Moss-Racusin et al., 2012; Heilman, Wallen, Fuchs, & Tamkins, 2004). These findings
underscore the persistent nature of gender preference in employment and its impact on
occupational representation.
Empirical research has explored various factors that contribute to gender preference in
employment. Socialization processes have been found to play a significant role, as individuals
internalize societal expectations and stereotypes regarding gender roles and occupational
suitability (Eccles, 1994; Liben & Bigler, 2002). Family and cultural influences, educational
experiences, and exposure to role models have also been identified as influential factors shaping
occupational preferences (Eccles et al., 2006; Marx, Ko, & Friedman, 2009). Organizational
culture and policies, such as the presence of gender bias in recruitment and promotion practices,
can further reinforce gender preferences in employment (Purdie-Vaughns & Eibach, 2008). By
examining these factors, empirical research provides valuable insights into the mechanisms
Gender preference in employment has significant consequences for individuals and society.
Research has shown that gender biases in occupational preferences contribute to disparities in
employment opportunities, wages, and career advancement (Blau & Kahn, 2017; Correll et al.,
2007). These disparities not only affect individuals' economic well-being but also contribute to
employment can reinforce stereotypes, limit diversity, and hinder organizational effectiveness
and innovation (Ely & Padavic, 2007; Kalev, Dobbin, & Kelly, 2006). Understanding the
consequences of gender preference is vital for designing interventions and policies to promote
organizations. Research consistently shows that gender biases in occupational preferences lead to
disparities in employment opportunities, career progression, and wages (Blau & Kahn, 2017;
Correll, Benard, & Paik, 2007). Such disparities not only affect individuals' economic well-being
but also contribute to gender inequality at a societal level. Furthermore, gender preference in
employment can limit diversity, hinder organizational effectiveness, and impede innovation (Ely
& Padavic, 2007; Kalev, Dobbin, & Kelly, 2006). Understanding the consequences of gender
preference is vital for developing strategies to promote gender equity and create inclusive work
environments.
CHAPTER THREE
METHODOLOGY
This work attempts to ascertain the Gender preference on employment worker The research
adopted a survey research design. The survey research design engaged researcher to administer
questionnaire to sample members of a study population. It involves that researcher made effort to
report response/result from the sample participants without any attempt to manipulate response.
The study will be carry out at Ibarapa Central Local Government. Ibarapa Central Local
Government with headquarters at Igboora, Oyo State was carved out of the then Ifeloju Local
Government on 4th December, 1996 by the then Head of State and Commander in Chief of
3.3. Populations
Awokemi (2006:92) refers to population study as the “set of all participant that qualify for a
study” The study population of this research is compromised of all staff at Ibarapa Central Local
Snowball sampling techniques was used to the staff of Ibarapa Central Local Government. This
sampling technique gave the researcher the opportunity to draw proportional sample from every
of labor union. However the sample size for study is determined using simple size for the studys
is Yard’s 1971 formula which is n= N where n = sample size N= Total population according to
NPC (2006) and which is constant at 0.05 the total sample size for Ibarapa Central Local
Goernment is ____________.
3.5. Method of Data Collection
This research work adopted Primary method of data collection. The primary data collection
method is a method used by the research when the data/information are collected by the
researcher.
For this research, two sources were adopted; firstly the primary source which entails
administering. The questionnaire to the respondents, which include the staff of Ibarapa Central
Local Government. Information and data from other researchers, articles, publication, and books
The researcher need qualitative analysis technique due to the nature of the data was collected.
The collected data were transferred to SPSS and were analyzed using descriptive statistics such
The study used only two components of gender preference as its independent variable while
Where:
Y = Gender,
β0 = constant,
β1, - β2 = Coefficient
X1 = Employment
X2 = Term of TGM.
In order to ensure that the instruments had a high level of validity, a number of precautions were
taken, first, the researcher ensured that the items in each of the instrument were relevant to the
objectives of the study it was also ascertained that the wordings of the items were simple enough
and unambiguous so that the items could be understood as intended guide were submitted to the
supervisor comments and advice were adhered to in order to ensure further enhance of the
Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistic. Descriptive statistic such as
frequency table, sample percentage and multiple bar chart that was used to analyze response
from the respondent through questionnaires, inferential statistic of Chi-square was used to test
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