Recently, the concept of gender has been introduced as a possible influence on hiring bias. To examine the relationship between gender perception and bias in hiring, a two-part study was conducted. In the initial phase, 99 college students developed descriptions of applicants that reflected gender characteristics. In the second phase, 63 college business students (31 females, 32 males) responded to one of the bogus applicants developed in phase one. The applicants were portrayed as feminine, androgynous, or masculine. Subjects were asked to indicate the likelihood that they would hire the applicant and the applicant's sex. An analysis of the results showed that the androgynous applicant was most desirable, and that the feminine applicant was least likely to be recommended for hiring. Furthermore, in line with cultural definitions of gender, masculine applicants were perceived as male, and feminine applicants were seen to be female. These findings show that gender is linked with sex in socially prescribed patterns, with women being devalued by stereotypes that do not allow them to be seen as possessing masculine traits. (Author/BL)