Abstract

The underrepresentation of women in male-dominated labor markets is often linked to biased perceptions of their capabilities. In recent decades, Spain has advanced significantly in including women in political and economic roles. This study examines how these shifts impact perceptions of women’s abilities and managerial decisions (i.e. hiring and task assignments). We conducted an online experiment with a representative sample of the Spanish population (N=806), focusing on the effects of age and gender. Results show either gender equality or positive discrimination favouring women. Additionally, age positively influences hiring decisions, likely due to shifting beliefs as workplace exposure to women increases. Evidence from a new Spanish sample (N=1,450) supports this mechanism through the contact hypothesis, indicating that increased exposure to women in the workplace reduces gender bias among older male employers. To test whether results are specific to Spain, we conducted a robustness check with a representative sample from Italy (N=1,450), a country with similar culture but differing gender equality trends. The findings were consistent. These age-related patterns underscore the importance of workplace characteristics in shaping employment decisions and offer insights for strategies to foster inclusion and reduce gender discrimination.