What Are Examples Of Gender Bias In The Workplace

Gender bias in the workplace is the pattern of assumption that sits behind a decision. It differs from gender inequality, which is the measurable outcome, and from discrimination, which is the unlawful act. Bias is what produces the other two without anyone deciding to.

Where it usually shows:

• Performance reviews that praise men for judgement and women for effort or attitude
• The same behaviour read as confident in one person and abrasive in another
• Hiring for a vague notion of fit rather than the criteria written down
• Interruption patterns in meetings, and ideas credited to whoever repeated them
• Assuming a parent does not want the role that involves travel, and never asking
• Stretch work and informal sponsorship flowing along the same lines every year

Bias is hard to police through policy, which is why the practical controls are structural. Written criteria before applications are seen, more than one assessor, and checking outcomes by group. Workplace Gender Equality Agency data shows what the aggregate result looks like. This is general information rather than legal advice.

See Sentrient’s cultural awareness training and equal employment opportunity course.