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How Are Gender Norms Perceived?
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How Are Gender Norms Perceived?

Author

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  • Leonardo Bursztyn
  • Alexander W. Cappelen
  • Bertil Tungodden
  • Alessandra Voena
  • David H. Yanagizawa-Drott

Abstract

Actual and perceived gender norms are key to understanding gender inequality in society. In this paper, using newly collected nationally representative datasets from 60 countries that cover over 80% of the world population, we study gender norms on two distinct policy issues: 1) basic freedom, allowing women to work outside of the home, and 2) affirmative action, prioritizing women when hiring for leadership positions. We establish that misperceptions of gender norms are pervasive across the world. The nature of the misperception, however, is context-dependent. In less gender-equal countries, people underestimate support for both policies, particularly support among men; in more gender-equal countries, people overestimate support for affirmative action, particularly support among women, and underestimate support for basic freedom. Perceptions of gender norms are highly correlated with actual gender norms across countries but are also systematically distorted. Specifically, using a simple framework we document that false consensus, overweighting of the minority view, and gender stereotyping prevail in our data, with the latter two forces driving the aggregate patterns of misperceptions on both policy issues. Misperceptions of gender norms may obstruct progress toward gender equality but may also contribute to sustaining gender policies that are not necessarily favored by women themselves.

Suggested Citation

  • Leonardo Bursztyn & Alexander W. Cappelen & Bertil Tungodden & Alessandra Voena & David H. Yanagizawa-Drott, 2023. "How Are Gender Norms Perceived?," NBER Working Papers 31049, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:31049
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    1. Boneva, Teodora & Golin, Marta & Kaufmann, Katja Maria & Rauh, Christopher, 2022. "Beliefs about Maternal Labor Supply," IZA Discussion Papers 15788, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    2. Guizzo Altube, Matías & Scartascini, Carlos, 2024. "Gender-Based Research and Interviewer Effects: Evidence for Latin America and the Caribbean," IDB Publications (Working Papers) 13475, Inter-American Development Bank.
    3. Boring, Anne & Delfgaauw, Josse, 2024. "Social desirability bias in attitudes towards sexism and DEI policies in the workplace," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 225(C), pages 465-482.
    4. Sabrina Herzog & Hannah Schildberg-Hörisch & Chi Trieu & Jana Willrodt, 2023. "Who Is in Favor of Affirmative Action? Representative Evidence from an Experiment and a Survey," CESifo Working Paper Series 10822, CESifo.
    5. Herzog, Sabrina & Schildberg-Hörisch, Hannah & Trieu, Chi & Willrodt, Jana, 2023. "Who is in favor of affirmative action? Representative evidence from an experiment and a survey," DICE Discussion Papers 409, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf Institute for Competition Economics (DICE).
    6. Claudia Martínez V. & Rubén Poblete-Cazenave, 2024. "Holi Crimes," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 24-041/V, Tinbergen Institute.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply

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