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From Pink-Collar to Lab Coat: Cultural Persistence and Diffusion of Socialist Gender Norms

Author

Listed:
  • Naomi Friedman-Sokuler

    (Bar-Ilan University [Israël])

  • Claudia Senik

    (PSE - Paris School of Economics - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, PJSE - Paris Jourdan Sciences Economiques - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, SU - Sorbonne Université)

Abstract

We study vertical transmission and societal diffusion of gender norms using the large immigration wave from the former Soviet Union (FSU) to Israel in the early 1990's. Tracking the educational choices of an entire cohort, born in 1988–89, we compare gender gaps among immigrants from the FSU versus natives and immigrants from other countries. We find smaller gender gaps among FSU immigrants in both traditionally male-dominated STEM fields and female-dominated pink collar jobs, e.g., education and social work. These patterns are largely driven by the behavior of FSU women and are not explained by early achievement levels or comparative advantage. Leveraging variation in the concentration of FSU immigrants across middle schools, we find that among natives, gender gaps narrow with the exposure to FSU immigrants, reflecting a shift in the choice patterns of native women towards STEM and away from pink collar fields.

Suggested Citation

  • Naomi Friedman-Sokuler & Claudia Senik, 2025. "From Pink-Collar to Lab Coat: Cultural Persistence and Diffusion of Socialist Gender Norms," Post-Print halshs-04928811, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:halshs-04928811
    DOI: 10.1007/s00148-025-01065-8
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    Cited by:

    1. Awaworyi Churchill, Sefa & Chang, Simon & Smyth, Russell & Trinh, Trong-Anh, 2025. "The long run gender origins of entrepreneurship: Evidence from Australia's convict history," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 40(6).
    2. William Jergins, 2023. "Gender equity and the gender gap in STEM: is there really a paradox?," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 36(4), pages 3029-3056, October.

    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • Z1 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • P30 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Socialist Institutions and Their Transitions - - - General

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