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Gender-Oriented Languages and Female Labour Force Participation: Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa

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  • Michelle Rao

Abstract

Using the data from the Demographic and Health Surveys, this paper estimates the relationship between language and labour force participation of women in Sub-Saharan Africa. The results suggest that women who speak languages with stronger distinctions between masculine and feminine are less likely to participate in the labour force. This relationship holds both across and within countries, even after controlling for individual characteristics, religion and proxies for gender social norms related to ones ethnicity, such as historical use of the plough. The results suggest that language has a direct effect on preferences regarding labour market decisions, above and beyond gender norms arising from ethnicity and religion. These findings contribute to the growing literature on the relationship between socio-psychological factors and gender differences in economic outcomes.

Suggested Citation

  • Michelle Rao, 2016. "Gender-Oriented Languages and Female Labour Force Participation: Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa," CSAE Working Paper Series 2016-12, Centre for the Study of African Economies, University of Oxford.
    • Handle: RePEc:csa:wpaper:2016-12
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Language; Identity; Culture; Gender social norms; Female labour force participation ; Sapir-Whorf hypothesis;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D03 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Behavioral Microeconomics: Underlying Principles
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • N37 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - Africa; Oceania
    • O55 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Africa

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