Are “justified” biases acceptable? Citizens’ perceptions of gendered government hiring
通过在中国进行的调查实验和后续访谈，研究公民如何看待性别定向的政府招聘，发现偏向男性的招聘广告会降低公众对公平性的感知，但符合角色一致性理论的“正当理由”能缓解这种负面影响。
Gender-biased recruitment persists in many public institutions, yet its impact on public perception remains underexplored. This study investigates citizens’ perceptions of gender-targeted recruitment through a survey experiment with follow-up interviews conducted in China. Analysis of quantitative and qualitative data reveals that gender-targeted job advertisement negatively impacts perceived fairness and reasonableness in government hiring, particularly when favouring men. However, ‘justifications’ for gender preferences, aligning with role congruity theory, can mitigate this negative effect. This research highlights the importance of addressing gender bias in government hiring to maintain public trust and alerts the subtle ways biases can be legitimized.