1232: Intersecting Biases: Does Veteran Status Overcome Disability and Gender Disadvantages in Employment (17193)

Monday, August 12, 2024

09:45 – 11:15 CT (GMT-5/UTC-5)

Location: Hyatt: Michigan 2

Session Number: 1232
Paper Session
Orientation: Research
Shareable link: https://cdmcd.co/3RbvDK

Author(s)

MA

Mason Ameri

Rutgers Business School, United States
TK

Terri R. Kurtzberg

Rutgers Business School, United States
AC

Adrienne Colella

Tulane U., United States
LS

Lisa Schur

Rutgers U., United States
DK

Douglas Kruse

Rutgers U., United States
MA

Meera Adya

-, United States

Using field, lab, and qualitative methodologies, we explore how veteran status influences employer reactions to job applicants and how it intersects with other marginalized populations based on disability and gender. First, a randomized field experiment examined responses to applications for over 6,000 customer service jobs. Next, a lab experiment investigated an applicant with a disability to assess the effects of veteran status on interviewing. A third quantitative and qualitative study explored people’s perceptions on the topics of veteran status, disability, and gender as they relate to hiring. Results show that veterans are favored over nonveterans for hiring (based primarily on their greater trust in their skills and training). These results hold for candidates with disabilities, demonstrating that positive reactions to some identities may help mitigate the stigma associated with others. These findings shed light on our understanding of intersectionality, specifically which elements may be dominant when multiple identities collide.

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