Francesca Gioia (University of Milan)
Regine Oexl
We investigate gender differences in perceived discrimination and their behavioral consequences. In a controlled experimental framework, we examine how perceptions of discrimination depend on contexts (e.g., stereotypically male versus female tasks), roles (candidates, decision-makers, observers), and individual characteristics. Importantly, we investigate whether perceiving discrimination affects the likelihood of engaging in discriminatory decisions. By integrating the study of perceptions and behavioral responses, this paper advances a novel perspective on discrimination as a dynamic process shaped by beliefs, context, and experience. It shows that discrimination is not only a matter of objective outcomes, but also of how those outcomes are interpreted, and how these interpretations, in turn, influence future discriminatory behavior.