Intersecting Biases: Does Veteran Status Overcome Disability and Gender Disadvantages in the Employment Landscape?

Abstract

Using field, lab, and qualitative methodologies, the authors explore how veteran status influences employer reactions to job applicants and how veteran status intersects with disability and gender. First, a randomized field experiment examined responses to applications for more than 6,000 customer service jobs. Next, a lab experiment investigated an applicant with a disability to assess the effects of veteran status on interviewing. A third quantitative and qualitative study explored people’s perceptions on the topics of veteran status, disability, and gender as they relate to hiring. Results show that veterans are favored over nonveterans for hiring (based primarily on greater trust in their skills and training). These results hold for candidates who are veterans with disabilities, demonstrating that positive reactions to some identities may help mitigate the stigma associated with others. These findings shed light on our understanding of intersectionality, specifically which elements may be dominant when multiple identities collide.