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The effect of gender norms on gender-based sorting across occupations

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  • Marcén, Miriam
  • Morales, Marina

Abstract

Despite the notable progress that has been made in bridging the gap between women and men in the world of work, women are still underrepresented in several occupations. In this article, the effect of gender norms on whether women enter male-dominated occupations is analysed using differences in gender equality among early-arrival migrants. The variations in gender norms according to the cultural backgrounds of those migrants by country of origin are exploited to identify their impact on occupational choices. Using data from the American Community Survey, it is found that greater gender equality in the country of origin reduces the gender gap in maledominated occupations. Suggestive evidence is further shown on the roles of job flexibility and women's relative preferences for family-friendly jobs in shaping gender-based sorting across occupations.

Suggested Citation

  • Marcén, Miriam & Morales, Marina, 2022. "The effect of gender norms on gender-based sorting across occupations," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1160, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:glodps:1160
    as

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    File URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/264143/1/GLO-DP-1160.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    culture; gender; occupation; remote work;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • Z13 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification

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