Sex Differences in the Acceptability of Discrimination

36 Pages Posted: 28 Jul 2005

See all articles by Timur Kuran

Timur Kuran

Duke University - Department of Economics

Edward J. McCaffery

University of Southern California Gould School of Law

Date Written: April 30, 2007

Abstract

A large telephone survey conducted after the attacks of September 11 suggests that the willingness to tolerate discrimination varies significantly across domains, with a very high tolerance of discrimination against poorly educated immigrants and a strikingly low tolerance of discrimination against the genetically disadvantaged. Regardless of domain, tolerance is greater among men than among women. A survey conducted simultaneously over the World-Wide Web, using volunteer panels, replicated the phone survey results and revealed an even larger sex gap. This finding suggests that a social desirability bias leads women to overstate and men to understate their tolerance of discrimination in public.

Keywords: Discrimination, sex differences, surveys, public opinion, social desirability bias

Suggested Citation

Kuran, Timur and McCaffery, Edward J., Sex Differences in the Acceptability of Discrimination (April 30, 2007). USC CLEO Research Paper No. C05-7, USC Legal Studies Research Paper No. 05-17, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=771640 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.771640

Timur Kuran (Contact Author)

Duke University - Department of Economics ( email )

213 Social Sciences Building
Box 90097
Durham, NC 27708-0204
United States

Edward J. McCaffery

University of Southern California Gould School of Law ( email )

699 Exposition Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90089
United States
213-740-2567 (Phone)
213-740-5502 (Fax)

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