Skip to main content
Log in

Measures of job perceptions: Gender and age of current incumbents, suitability, and job attributes

  • Published:
Sex Roles Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Two ways of examining the gender and age stereotypes of jobs, characteristics of current incumbents and potential suitability, were compared. Female (n = 70) and male (n = 66) college students, predominantly Caucasian ranging in age from 18 to 57 years, provided their gender and age perceptions for 58 jobs. Although the two concepts have not been clearly distinguished in the literature, they are conceptually and (as found here) empirically distinct. The important roles of current incumbents, suitability, and job attribute perceptions for discrimination research are presented.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Cleveland, J. N., Festa, R. M., & Montgomery, L. (1988). Applicant pool composition and job perceptions: Impact on decisions regarding an older applicant.Journal of Vocational Behavior, 32 112–125.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cleveland, J. N., & Landy, F. J. (1983). The effects of person and job stereotypes on two personnel decisions.Journal of Applied Psychology, 68 609–619.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cleveland, J. N., & Landy, F. J. (1987). Age perceptions of jobs: Convergence of two questionnaires.Psychological Reports, 60 1075–1081.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gordon, R. A., & Arvey, R. D. (1986). Perceived and actual ages of workers.Journal of Vocational Behavior, 28 21–28.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heilman, M. E. (1983). Sex bias in work settings: The lack of fit model.Research in Organizational Behavior, 5 269–298.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heilman, M. E., Martell, R. F., & Simon, M. C. (1988). The vagaries of sex bias: Conditions regulating the undervaluation, equivaluation, and overvaluation of female job applicants.Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 41 98–110.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jessell, J. C., & Beymer, L. (1992). The effects of job title vs. job description on occupational sex typing.Sex Roles, 27 73–83.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kite, M. E., Deaux, K., & Miele, M. (1991). Stereotypes of young and old: Does age outweigh gender?Psychology and Aging, 6 19–27.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Krefting, L. A., Berger, P. K., & Wallace, M. J. (1978). The contribution of sex distribution, job content and occupational classification to job sextyping: Two studies.Journal of Vocational Behavior, 13 181–191.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kutscher, R. E. (1989). Projections summary and emerging issues.Monthly Labor Review, 112 66–74.

    Google Scholar 

  • O'Connell, A. N., & Rotter, N. G. (1979). The influence of stimulus age and sex on personal perception.Journal of Gerontology, 34 220–228.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Offermann, L. R., & Gowing, M. K. (1990). Organizations of the future: Changes and challenges.American Psychologist, 45 95–108.

    Google Scholar 

  • O'Keefe, E. S., & Hyde, J. S. (1983). The development of occupational sex-role stereotypes: The effects of gender stability and age.Sex Roles, 9 481–492.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roe, A. (1956).The psychology of occupations. New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shinar, E. H. (1975). Sexual stereotypes of occupations.Journal of Vocational Behavior, 7 99–110.

    Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Bureau of the Census (1984).Census of the population: 1980 characteristics of the population. Vol. 1, Part 1, United States summary, Chapter D, Detailed population characteristics. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.

    Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Department of Labor (1991).Dictionary of Occupational Titles. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walsh, R. P., & Connor, C. L. (1979). Old men and young women: How objectively are their skills assessed?Journal of Gerontology, 34 561–568.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ward, N. J. (1991). Occupational suitability bias for full-time and part-time employment in sex-typed jobs.Sex Roles, 25 81–89.

    Google Scholar 

  • White, M. J., Kruczek, T. A., Brown, M. T., & White, G. B. (1989). Occupational sex stereotypes among college students.Journal of Vocational Behavior, 34 289–298.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yanico, B. J., & Hardin, S. I. (1986). College students' self-estimated and actual knowledge of gender traditional occupations: A replication and extension.Journal of Vocational Behavior, 28 229–240.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Macan, T.H., Detjen, J.B. & Dickey, K.L. Measures of job perceptions: Gender and age of current incumbents, suitability, and job attributes. Sex Roles 30, 55–67 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01420739

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01420739

Keywords

Navigation