Sexual discrimination in the use of letters of recommendation: A case of reverse discrimination

Abstract

Possible sexual discrimination was examined in the use of letters of recommendation. Eight different letters of recommendation (male or female writer, male or female applicant, favorable or unfavorable letter) were written for applicants applying for a management (trainee) position. A mailed questionnaire along with 1 version of the letter was sent to 128 personnel managers. An ANOVA was computed on the 75 usable responses to the questionnaire. Female applicants were preferred over male applicants in terms of proceeding with an interview, thus demonstrating a case of reverse discrimination. In addition, managers judged female applicants to have more initiative and responsibility and greater ability to learn quickly than male applicants. The sex of the writer had no significant main effect on the dependent variables, but entered into several interesting interactions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)