Gender and Age Discrimination at Work: Intersecting Inequalities across the Lifecourse

• In Event: 035 - Section on Sex and Gender Roundtables (one-hour)
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 19. Work and Inequality

Abstract

This study combines an intersectional theoretical perspective with quantitative data analysis to examine the relationship between age discrimination and gender-based mistreatment at work. While most existing quantitative research treats sexism and ageism as independent and separable forms of mistreatment, this study centralizes the intersection of the two. Analysis of data from the 2002, 2006, and 2010 General Social Surveys (GSSs) highlights the importance of considering the relationship among multiple forms of workplace mistreatment. While working men and women are equally likely to perceive age-based discrimination, approximately half of women perceive age-discrimination also perceive gender-based mistreatment. In addition, results highlight the differential timeline of men’s and women’s exposure to mistreatment at work. Men perceive low levels of age-based discrimination during their 40s and 50s, but it is precisely during this time period when women experience high levels of gender-based mistreatment. The findings highlight the promise of analyzing age discrimination with an intersectional approach.

Author

• Catherine E. Harnois, Wake Forest University