Gender and social class as barriers in élite industries. A résumé study on the Italian job market for lawyers

of gender and social class (keeping education and technical skills constant) and randomly sent to 455 law firms and law departments of corporations located in Rome and Milan, as spontaneous applications for an internship (N = 794). The analysis of the callback rates shows an interaction effect between social class and gender, favoring high-class and male candidates. These findings contribute to a robust literature on discrimination in hiring procedures, highlighting the persistent role that signals of social class play in accessing the most lucrative and prestigious segments of the labor market. We also contribute to the literature on intergenerational mobility showing that individuals from affluent families seem to benefit from “residual” advantages even when controlling for skills and education.