Scaling Down Inequality Rating Scales, Gender Bias, and the Architecture of Evaluation

• Published in: American sociological review Vol. 84; no. 2; pp. 248 - 274
• Main Authors: Rivera, Lauren A., Tilcsik, András
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA Sage Publications, Inc 01.04.2019; SAGE Publications; American Sociological Association
• Subjects: Bias; Business; Classification; College faculty; Gender; Gender inequality; Gender stereotypes; Measures; Occupational segregation; Quantitative analysis; Rating Scales; Ratings & rankings; Rewards; Sex Stereotypes; Sexism; Sociology; Stereotypes; Teachers; Teaching; Work organization; Working women; Workplaces; classification systems; inequalities; employment; gender; work and occupations

Quantitative performance ratings are ubiquitous in modern organizations—from businesses to universities—yet there is substantial evidence of bias against women in such ratings. This study examines how gender inequalities in evaluations depend on the design of the tools used to judge merit. Exploitin...