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Exposure to female colleagues breaks the glass ceiling—Evidence from a combined vignette and field experiment

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  • Finseraas, Henning
  • Johnsen, Åshild A.
  • Kotsadam, Andreas
  • Torsvik, Gaute

Abstract

We study discrimination among recruits in the Norwegian Armed Forces during boot camp. In a vignette experiment female candidates are perceived as less suited to be squad leaders than their identical male counterparts. Adding positive information leads to higher evaluations of the candidates, but does not reduce the amount of discrimination. However, randomized intense collaborative exposure to female colleagues reduces discriminatory attitudes: Male soldiers who were randomly assigned to share room and work in a squad with female soldiers during the recruit period do not discriminate in the vignette experiment.

Suggested Citation

  • Finseraas, Henning & Johnsen, Åshild A. & Kotsadam, Andreas & Torsvik, Gaute, 2016. "Exposure to female colleagues breaks the glass ceiling—Evidence from a combined vignette and field experiment," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 363-374.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:eecrev:v:90:y:2016:i:c:p:363-374
    DOI: 10.1016/j.euroecorev.2015.11.010
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    J16; J78; C93; Discrimination; Exposure; Field experiments; Gender;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J78 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Discrimination - - - Public Policy (including comparable worth)
    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments

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