Conflict and Gender Norms

Mark Dincecco, James Fenske, Bishnupriya Gupta and Anil Menon
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Bishnupriya Gupta: University of Warwick
Anil Menon: University of California

The Warwick Economics Research Paper Series (TWERPS) from University of Warwick, Department of Economics

Abstract: We study the relationship between exposure to historical conflict involving heavy weaponry and male-favoring gender norms. We argue that the physical nature of such conflict produced cultural norms favoring males and male offspring. We focus on spatial variation in gender norms across India, a dynamic developing economy in which gender inequality persists. We show robust evidence that areas with high exposure to pre-colonial conflict are significantly more likely to exhibit malefavoring gender norms as measured by male-biased sex ratios and crimes against women. We document how conflict-related gender norms have been transmitted over time via male-favoring folkloric traditions, the gender identity of temple gods, and male-biased marriage practices, and have been transmitted across space by migrants originally from areas with high conflict exposure.

Keywords: War; Gender Norms; Cultural Beliefs; Development; India, History JEL Codes: J16; N45; 011; P46; Z13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-dev, nep-gro, nep-his and nep-soc
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https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/economics/research/w ... erp_1491_-_gupta.pdf

Related works:
Working Paper: Conflict and Gender Norms (2024)
Working Paper: Conflict and Gender Norms (2024)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:wrk:warwec:1491

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