More Women in Tech? Evidence from a Field Experiment Addressing Social Identity

Lucía Del Carpio () and Maria Guadalupe ()
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Lucía Del Carpio: INSEAD, Department of Economics, 77300 Fontainebleau, France
Maria Guadalupe: INSEAD, Department of Economics, 77300 Fontainebleau, France

Management Science, 2022, vol. 68, issue 5, 3196-3218

Abstract: We study the impact of using informational messaging aimed at encouraging women to seek a career in technology and the resulting trade-offs for organizations pursuing recruitment strategies of this kind. Our treatment, implemented through two field experiments among potential applicants to a five-month software-coding program targeted at low-income women in Peru and Mexico, counterbalances the strong male stereotype associated with a career in tech. Although our informational messages substantially increase application rates, including candidates at the top of the cognitive skill distribution, they introduce negative selection on cognitive skills, implying a higher cost of screening. Moreover, we observe selection on the noncognitive dimensions addressed with the treatment (e.g., stronger gender stereotypes and traditional norms). This points to the barriers that preclude more women from applying to tech positions, as well as the trade-offs for organizations of adopting such a strategy.

Keywords: social identity; diversity; talent strategy; technology industry; strategic human capital (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:inm:ormnsc:v:68:y:2022:i:5:p:3196-3218

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