Year: 2026
Type: report
Abstract: We analyze 60,000 mock interviews and two field experiments to show how interpersonal dynamics introduce gender gaps in peer interview evaluations of software engineers. Performance ratings are 13% of a standard deviation lower for women. The gap persists after controlling for an objective measure of quality. Providing evaluators with automated performance measures does not reduce gender gaps, but removing personal interaction in blind and non-blind evaluations does. Gaps are larger among evaluators from regions with stronger implicit gender bias. Complementary analysis suggests that interviewers are more likely to adopt a harsh or condescending tone when the candidate is a woman.
Source: CESifo
DOI: 10.65864/pcywqw47wj
Institutions: University of Konstanz, Australian National University
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W7225085350