Gender accounting stereotypes in the highly feminised accounting profession. The case of Poland

Abstract

Purpose: The article presents the results of research on the frequency and content (varieties) of the stereotype that the accounting profession is a job for women. The research concerns Poland, a country with a unique level of feminisation of the accounting profession. Methodology/approach: To formulate hypotheses about the content (varieties) of the stereotype concerning the feminine character of accounting that exists in Poland, several mainly qualitative studies were carried out. As a result, four stereotypes were identified (i.e. different beliefs about why accounting is a profession for women and not for men). The hypotheses were tested using a survey of a representative group of Polish secondary school students (almost 1,200 respondents). Findings: The belief that the accounting profession is for women and not for men is expressed by one in six secondary school students, more often by men. Two stereotypes are particularly common: 1) that accounting is simply for women (without any specific justification), 2) that the most important aspects in this profession are accuracy, patience, meticulousness, the ability to focus on details, and other similar qualities usually attributed to women. Originality/value: For the first time in Poland (and probably in other East European countries with feminized accounting profession), the article provides new and up-to-date knowledge on the gender perception of the accounting profession and the stereotypes about this job which may be a significant driving force in sustaining gender segregation in this profession.