Predicting hiring discrimination for transgender job applicants

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between attitudes toward transgender individuals and hiring discrimination of transgender individuals as well as how several individual difference variables relate to negative attitudes toward transgender individuals. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two conditions where they read eight applications; half of the applicants were qualified for the job and one qualified applicant was transgender. Participants reviewed the applications, rated each applicant on their qualifications, and rank-ordered applicants for hiring purposes. Researchers hypothesized participants that held negative attitudes would be less likely to report that they would hire transgender individuals. Results indicated that there were significant relationships between religiosity, controllability, attitudes toward lesbian and gays, gender role belief, exposure to transgender individuals and participants attitudes towards transgender individuals. Additionally, there was no significant relationship between attitudes toward transgender individuals and hiring discrimination.