More Women in Tech? Evidence from a field experiment addressing social identity

Maria Guadalupe and Lucia Del Carpio

No 13234, CEPR Discussion Papers from Centre for Economic Policy Research

Abstract: This paper investigates whether social identity considerations-through beliefs and norms- drive women’s occupational choices. We implement two field experiments with potential applicants to a five-month software-coding program offered to women from low-income backgrounds in Peru and Mexico. When we correct the perception that women cannot succeed in technology by providing role models, information on returns and access to a female network, application rates double and the self-selection patterns change. Analysis of those patterns suggests that identity considerations act as barriers to entering the technology sector and that some high-cognitive skill women do not apply because of their high identity costs.

JEL-codes: D91 J16 J24 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018-10
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-lab
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (14)

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Working Paper: More Women in Tech? Evidence from a Field Experiment Addressing Social Identity (2018)
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