Pregnant women discriminated against
Published: May 8, 2008 at 2:07 PM
WASHINGTON, May 8 (UPI) -- U.S. studies suggest pregnant women face judgments and discrimination when applying for jobs.
The research, published in the Journal of Applied Psychology, "highlights the challenges facing working mothers and suggests current policies might not be as effective as hoped."
Eden King of George Mason University in Virginia and Michelle Hebl of Rice University in Houston found 80 study participants more likely to believe a pregnant woman "would complain a lot" or "expect to have their work done for them" when applying for a job as a corporate lawyer, janitor, math teacher or general surgeon than when she was applying for a position as a maid, kindergarten teacher or pediatrician.
In another study, King and Hebl sent secret observers with women shopping or asking about a job at 110 retail outlets with the women sometimes wearing a prosthesis that made them appear pregnant.
The pregnant women shoppers were more likely to experience physical touching and were called "honey" or "sweetie." Women wearing a pregnancy prosthesis asking about job opportunities faced significantly more interpersonal hostility than the same women inquiring about job opportunities when they did not appear pregnant.
The research, published in the Journal of Applied Psychology, "highlights the challenges facing working mothers and suggests current policies might not be as effective as hoped."
Eden King of George Mason University in Virginia and Michelle Hebl of Rice University in Houston found 80 study participants more likely to believe a pregnant woman "would complain a lot" or "expect to have their work done for them" when applying for a job as a corporate lawyer, janitor, math teacher or general surgeon than when she was applying for a position as a maid, kindergarten teacher or pediatrician.
In another study, King and Hebl sent secret observers with women shopping or asking about a job at 110 retail outlets with the women sometimes wearing a prosthesis that made them appear pregnant.
The pregnant women shoppers were more likely to experience physical touching and were called "honey" or "sweetie." Women wearing a pregnancy prosthesis asking about job opportunities faced significantly more interpersonal hostility than the same women inquiring about job opportunities when they did not appear pregnant.
© 2008 United Press International. All Rights Reserved.
This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
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