Gender stereotyping in public accounting: Price Waterhouse v. Hopkins

ABSTRACT Ann Hopkins (1943–2018) was passed over for partner at Price Waterhouse (PW) in 1982 although she billed more hours than other aspiring partner candidates and obtained one of the largest deals in PW history to that date. Giving her the partnership denial news, a male PW partner cited her ‘macho’ demeanour and non-gender conforming behaviour as the reason. Hopkins sued in 1983 and finally prevailed in 1990 following the US Supreme Court holding in her favor. Hopkins lost seven years of her career before receiving her PW partnership by order of the court. Legal definitions of workplace discrimination were expanded to include gender stereotyping of men and women. Constructive discharge (legal condition necessary for a monetary remedy) was extended to career-ending circumstances including denial of partnership. Hopkins’s legal quest was situated in the gendered notions of her time and the gendered construction of the accounting profession. The study underscores her contributions to expanding opportunities for women in accounting and other professions.