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Researchers from University of Edinburgh Business School and University of Glasgow Adam Smith Business School found perceived female and male traits could be behind the tasks and roles men and women are asked to perform in insolvency practice.

Emotional, empathetic and nurturing women were often found to specialise in personal insolvency, while men were more inclined to pursue a career in corporate insolvency – which is viewed as more masculine, competitive and aggressive.

The study also suggests firms exploit gender perceptions to address conflicts or improve relationships with clients.

Practitioners said women were often chosen to attend hostile meetings, as their presence is expected to calm agitated male clients.

Meanwhile, men were more likely to be chosen to take on networking and business development tasks – due to their perceived more competitive nature.

Professor Stephen Walker from University of Edinburgh Business School performed the research. He said:

“Our research suggests it may be time to go back to the drawing-board when it comes to gender diversity strategies, as there is now clear evidence that efforts toward equality in recruitment only creates problems of inequality and task segregation down the line.

“We are predisposed to viewing our own or the opposite sex through our own gender prism – with all the preconceptions, and assumptions that’s associated with."

Both male and female senior executives were likely to display gender bias in their choice of candidates for roles, depending on the perceived ‘masculine’ or ‘feminine’ skill sets required.