Working Paper: NBER ID: w31049
Authors: Leonardo Bursztyn; Alexander W. Cappelen; Bertil Tungodden; Alessandra Voena; David H. Yanagizawadrott
Abstract: Actual and perceived gender norms are key to understanding gender inequality in society. In this paper, using newly collected nationally representative datasets from 60 countries that cover over 80% of the world population, we study gender norms on two distinct policy issues: 1) basic freedom, allowing women to work outside of the home, and 2) affirmative action, prioritizing women when hiring for leadership positions. We establish that misperceptions of gender norms are pervasive across the world. The nature of the misperception, however, is context-dependent. In less gender-equal countries, people underestimate support for both policies, particularly support among men; in more gender-equal countries, people overestimate support for affirmative action, particularly support among women, and underestimate support for basic freedom. Perceptions of gender norms are highly correlated with actual gender norms across countries but are also systematically distorted. Specifically, using a simple framework we document that false consensus, overweighting of the minority view, and gender stereotyping prevail in our data, with the latter two forces driving the aggregate patterns of misperceptions on both policy issues. Misperceptions of gender norms may obstruct progress toward gender equality but may also contribute to sustaining gender policies that are not necessarily favored by women themselves.
Keywords: No keywords provided
JEL Codes: J16; J22
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| societal gender equality levels (J16) | perception of support for women's basic rights and affirmative action (J16) |
| correcting misperceptions of gender norms (J16) | support for women's involvement in the labor market (J21) |
| national perceptions of gender norms (J16) | local perceptions of gender norms (J16) |
| overweighting minority views (J15) | misperception of support for gender policies (J16) |