Working Paper: NBER ID: w27449
Authors: Seema Jayachandran
Abstract: This article discusses cultural barriers to women's participation and success in the labor market in developing countries. I begin by describing how gender norms influence the relationship between economic development and female employment, as well as how gender norms vary substantially across societies at the same level of economic development. I then examine several specific gender-related social norms and how they constrain women's employment. I present examples of policies aimed at dismantling these cultural barriers to female employment and the impacts they have.
Keywords: No keywords provided
JEL Codes: J16; J20; O10
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| economic development (O29) | female employment (J21) |
| gender norms (J16) | female labor market outcomes (J79) |
| restrictive norms (F55) | lower participation rates (J49) |
| restrictive norms (F55) | lower earnings for women (J31) |
| economic development (O29) | female labor participation (J21) |
| policies for women's safety (J28) | increase female employment (J21) |
| personal bank accounts (D14) | increase labor force participation (J49) |
| changing household norms (D10) | improve labor market outcomes for women (J79) |