Working Paper: NBER ID: w31314
Authors: Lucia Del Carpio; Thomas Fujiwara
Abstract: Gendered-grammar languages like Spanish are spoken by 39% of the world’s population. In a field experiment in partnership with a Spanish-speaking online platform for technology positions, ads randomly selected to use gender-neutral language receive a larger share of female applicants for non-remote positions in fields where female participation is not too low, and similar numbers otherwise. In a separate survey experiment, gender-neutral language in ads increases interest and beliefs about the suitability for the position and the advertiser’s culture of inclusion, with effects that are similar in magnitude to stating the job is remote and larger than explicit diversity statements.
Keywords: gender-neutral language; diversity; job advertisements; Latin America; tech sector
JEL Codes: J16; J7; M14; Z13
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| gender-neutral language in job ads (J70) | larger share of female applicants (J16) |
| gender-neutral language in job ads (J70) | female applicants' perceptions of suitability (J16) |
| gender-neutral language in job ads (J70) | perceptions of company's culture of inclusion (M14) |
| gender-neutral language in job ads (J70) | effects larger than explicit diversity statements (J79) |
| gender-neutral language in job ads (J70) | attractiveness and inclusiveness perception (Z13) |