Revealing you are vegan can hurt your job prospects, especially if the job is perceived as more masculine, according to new research. The study was published in the Journal of Social Psychology.
Veganism is a lifestyle and dietary choice that seeks to exclude the use of animals for food, clothing, or any other purpose. It has become increasingly popular in recent years, with more people adopting plant-based diets for ethical, environmental, or health reasons. However, vegans are often subject to negative stereotypes and discrimination. Previous research has shown that being vegan can affect how people are perceived in various contexts, including social relationships and professional settings.
In their new study, researchers Dominika Adamczyk and Dominika Maison aimed to investigate the impact of veganism on a person’s perception in the context of job applications and how this varies based on gender and job type. The research team hypothesized that when males report they are vegan, they will be seen as more competent, and when females do the same, they will be seen as warmer.
Additionally, they proposed that when vegans apply for work that is seen as very “manly,” they will be seen as less competent, and the opposite will be true when they apply for jobs seen as more feminine. This phenomenon will be reversed when the candidate is female.
The study was conducted online using a representative sample of 838 Polish adults. Participants were randomly assigned to one of eight experimental conditions and presented with a fictitious CV of a candidate applying for a job. The CV varied in three dimensions: (a) diet of the candidate (vegan or not); (b) gender of the candidate; and (c) job position (stereotypically male or female). Participants were asked to rate the candidate’s suitability for the job based on their CVs.
The research team chose Poland as their research site because it is one of the most conservative countries in Europe regarding veganism. Eurostat data from 2019 shows that only 1% of Poles identify as vegans or vegetarians. This made Poland an ideal location for studying how veganism affects a person’s perception.
The results revealed that being vegan significantly impacted how potential employers perceived candidates. Vegan candidates were rated as less suitable for jobs stereotypically associated with masculinity, such as CEO or construction worker, but more suitable for jobs stereotypically associated with femininity, such as kindergarten teacher or nurse.
This effect was stronger for male candidates than for female candidates. Additionally, vegan candidates were perceived as less competent than non-vegan candidates. Gender also affected how candidates were perceived; female candidates were rated as more suitable for stereotypically feminine jobs than male candidates.
The authors suggest that these findings are consistent with previous research on gender stereotypes and expectations. In many cultures, meat consumption is associated with masculinity and strength, while plant-based diets are seen as feminine or weak. This may explain why vegan candidates were perceived as less suitable for stereotypically masculine jobs, such as CEO or construction worker. On the other hand, veganism may be seen as an asset in jobs stereotypically associated with femininity, such as kindergarten teacher or nurse.
Adamczyk and Maison also note that the negative perception of vegan candidates may be due to the belief that veganism is a personal choice that reflects a lack of commitment or conformity to social norms. This perception may be particularly strong in conservative societies like Poland, where traditional gender roles and meat-based diets are deeply ingrained.
Interestingly, the study found that the negative impact of veganism was stronger for male candidates than for female candidates. This suggests that there may be a double standard regarding gender and veganism. At the same time, female vegans may be seen as conforming to traditional gender roles; male vegans may be seen as deviating from them. This could explain why male vegans were perceived as less competent in stereotypically masculine jobs.
There are limitations to the study to consider when interpreting the results. First, the study was conducted in Poland, which has a unique cultural context when it comes to veganism and gender roles. The findings may not generalize to other countries or cultures with different attitudes towards these issues.
Second, the study used a fictitious CV rather than actual job applicants. While this allowed for greater control over the experimental conditions, it may not accurately reflect how veganism affects a person’s perception in real-world hiring situations. Future research could use more realistic scenarios or examine actual hiring decisions to better understand the impact of veganism on career opportunities.
In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the impact of vegan stereotypes on person perception in the context of job applications. The findings suggest that being vegan can affect how candidates are perceived by potential employers and limit their career opportunities, particularly in jobs stereotypically associated with masculinity.
The study, “Vegan stereotypes and person perception in a job application situation – differences depending on the type of job and the gender of the candidate,” was authored by Dominika Adamczyk and Dominika Maison.
