Perceived effects of gender, family structure, and physical appearance on career progression in public accounting: A research note

This study measured whether gender, family structure, and physical appearance are perceived to influence future career success in public accounting. Practicing auditors indicated perceptions of success for 16 hypothetical audit seniors on three separate measures of career potential. Data were analyzed with repeated-measure ANOVAs. Peers who were described as female, married with children, and poor in physical appearance were generally perceived as less likely to succeed. Implications of these findings for both auditors and public accounting firms are discussed.