[Conference] ‘Comparison Processes in the Gendering of Performance Evaluations’
June 19th, 2025
10am – 12pm in Collines Building (L712) & on Zoom
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Speaker: Minna PAUNOVA — ESCP, Spain
abstract
Social Comparison Processes in the Gendering of Performance EvaluationsAbstract: This study explores how social comparison processes shape performance evaluations, with a focus on the role of gender in interpersonal assessments.
Using data from a major Scandinavian institution, we examine how implicit gender comparisons influence perceptions of competence and overall evaluations.
Our analysis, based on 32,386 student evaluations of 786 instructors across 874 courses, reveals that men tend to rate women lower, particularly in contexts where direct gender comparisons are salient.
These findings highlight the nuanced ways that social comparison mechanisms perpetuate bias, offering broader insights into the dynamics of performance evaluations in workplace and professional settings.
By understanding how gender stereotypes interact with evaluative contexts, this study provides actionable insights for enhancing equity and fairness in performance appraisal systems.