Mothers, Friends and Gender Identity

Yves Zenou, Claudia Olivetti and Eleonora Patacchini

No 9712, CEPR Discussion Papers from C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers

Abstract: This paper explores a novel mechanism of gender identity formation. Specifically, we explore how the work behavior of a teenager's own mother, as well as that of her friends' mothers, affect her work decisions in adulthood. The first mechanism is commonly included in economic models. The second, which in social psychology is also emphasized as an important factor in gender identity formation, has so far been overlooked. Accordingly, our key theoretical innovation is how the utility function is modeled. It is assumed that an adult woman's work decisions are influenced by her own mother's choices as well as her friends' mothers' choices when she was a teenager, and the interaction between the two. The empirical salience of this behavioral model is tested using a network model specification together with the longitudinal structure of the AddHealth data set. We find that both intergenerational channels positively affect a woman's work hours in adulthood, but the cross effect is negative, indicating the existence of cultural substitutability. That is, the mother's role model effect is larger the more distant she is (in terms of working hours) from the friends' mothers.

Keywords: Gender identity; Intergenerational transmission; Labor force participation; Social Networks (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J22 Z13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013-10
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hme, nep-soc and nep-upt
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (16)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Mothers, Peers, and Gender-Role Identity (2020)
Working Paper: Mothers, Peers and Gender-Role Identity (2019)
Working Paper: Mothers, Peers and Gender Identity (2018)
Working Paper: Mothers, Friends and Gender Identity (2013)
Working Paper: Mothers, Friends and Gender Identity (2013)
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