Religion and women: How Waldensians reduced the gender gap

Andrea Berlanda, Paolo Buonanno and Marcello Puca

Economics of Education Review, 2023, vol. 96, issue C

Abstract: Does religion affect the gender gap? Using data on inquisition trials to locate medieval Waldensian communities in the Italian municipalities of Piedmont and early 19th-century female literacy rates, we find that municipalities with a history of Waldensian presence display lower levels of the education gender gap, a pattern that persists to the present day. Moreover, women in these municipalities have higher levels of education, greater labor market participation, and increased political representation. Our results highlight the importance of cultural and social norms in shaping women’s empowerment and gender equality outcomes.

Keywords: Gender gap; Religion; Women empowerment; Waldensians (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J16 N3 Z1 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ecoedu:v:96:y:2023:i:c:s0272775723000985

DOI: 10.1016/j.econedurev.2023.102451

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